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Welfare Ministry
the Lord enable us to see the wants of the poor and give us a ready and
willing heart to supply them.
February 28, Monday—Mary Loughborough came here.
Stopped with us for dinner. Her baby is sick in the afternoon. Went
into Sister Ratel’s. Have a pleasant interview. Her babe has on an old
torn white dress. The best he has except one that she keeps to put on
when she goes out with him. She speaks of her children that died two
years since. She does not wish them alive again. The family are all
poor. The oldest girl prizes a Bible I gave her, much. She reads out
of it to her parents. Sister Ratel’s health is very poor. Has spit blood
today. I fear she will not fill her place in her family long. She tries to
do right. Her husband is a poor, wicked, passionate man and she has
great trials. May the Lord sustain her. She begs us to pray for her that
she may do right at all times.
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March 1, Tuesday—Walked to the office. Called to see Sister
Sarah and mother. Sarah gave me a little dress and two aprons for
Sister Ratel’s babe. I then called on Sister Aurora Lockwood. Had a
pleasant interview with her. She is a choice sister, beloved of God and
highly respected of all the church.
I rode down to the city and purchased a few things. Bought a little
dress for Sister Ratel’s babe. Came to the office, assisted them a little
there, and then came home to dinner. Sent the little articles to Sister
Ratel. Mary Loughborough sends her another dress, so she will do
very well now. Oh, that all knew the sweetness of giving to the poor,
of helping do others good, and making others happy. The Lord open
my heart to do all in my power to relieve those around me. “Give me
to feel my brother’s woe.”
March 8, Tuesday—It is a day when infirmities are striving for
the victory. I suffer much pain in my left shoulder and lung. My
spirits are depressed. Brother John Andrews leaves today. Comes up
to visit us in the eve. Have a pleasant interview. Get together a few
things for him to take home. Send Angeline a new calico dress, nine
shillings, and a stout pair of calfskin shoes. Father gives the making of
the shoes and the making of a pair of boots for Brother John Andrews.
I send the little boy a nice little flannel shirt and yarn to knit him a
pair of stockings. I send Sister or Mother Andrews a nice large cape,
well wadded for her to wear. I make a bag to put them in of towel