to be procured. About four o'clock this afternoon, one of the
sisters in the Orphan-Houses, to whom I had some days since sent a
little money for her own personal necessities, gave 1l. Thus we were
able to purchase sufficient provisions to last till breakfast on
Monday morning. These last days have been very trying. The poverty
has been greater than ever; the Lord, however, has not confounded us,
but has, strengthened our faith, and always given us necessaries.

The School-Funds are also now again very low. There was only so much
money in hand, as that two of the teachers, really in need, could be
paid today. Truly, my dear fellow-labourers in the schools need to
trust the Lord for their temporal supplies! [I notice here, that
though the brethren and sisters have a certain remuneration, yet it
is understood that, if the Lord should not be pleased to send in the
means at the time when their salary is due, I am not considered their
debtor. Should the Lord be pleased to send in means afterwards, the
remainder of the salary is paid up, and also additional assistance is
given in time of sickness or more than usual need, as the Lord may be
pleased to grant the means. A brother or sister, in connection with
this work, not looking for themselves to the Lord, would be truly
uncomfortable; for the position of all of us is of such a character,
that it brings heavy trials of faith, in addition to the many
precious seasons of joy on account of answers to prayer.]

Dec. 13. Lord's day. This morning I received 2l. 10s. Thus, before
the last provisions are actually consumed in the Orphan-Houses, I
have been able to give fresh supplies.

Dec. 14. Though 2l. 10s. had come in yesterday, there was still
not sufficient this morning to buy coals in the Boys' and
Girls'-Orphan-Houses. But the Lord kindly supplied us with means for
that also; for there were given today six silver tea spoons, and a
pair of silver sugar tongs. I received also 1l. 10s. which yesterday
had been anonymously given for rent. Thus the Lord, in this
particular also, again begins the year with blessings. [As during the
two previous years 1l. 10s. a week was anonymously given to pay for
the rent of the three Orphan-Houses, so during the whole of this year
also, from Dec. 10, 1840, to Dec. 10, 1841, the donor continued the
same contribution.] This evening was the first of our public
meetings, at which I gave the account of the Lord's dealings with us
in regard to this