The noontide hour is wont to be
  A blessed means of grace to me;
  When met, the hallowing power to share,
  In the sweet intercourse of prayer.

“Was drawn out in prayer for myself and others until a late hour, and was much blest.  After I had retired and had been asleep, I awoke with these lines: 

  ’Soft and easy is Thy pillow,
    Coarse and hard the Saviour lay;
  Since His birthplace was a stable,
    And His softest bed was hay.’

My pillow seemed softer than usual, and my soul was happy.—­Very stormy.” [Such notes of the weather repeatedly occur at this period, but nothing more:  her thoughts were after Richard, but her feelings were too intense for expression.  To a friend she remarked, that for six months after her son’s departure, she dared not touch, the subject.  ‘I cannot write upon it,’ she said, ’I am obliged to leave it.’]

“1837.  Took tea with Mrs. D., with several christian friends; our visit was blessed, all shared in the heavenly influence:  if all visits were equally profitable, I should regret to refuse an invitation.—­Paid a visit not so beneficial, though many good people were there, and honourable too.—­Rose too early by mistake, but determined to profit by it, so I bowed myself at the feet of Him to whom I can most freely unbosom myself and told Him all my cares, which seemed to multiply as I spread them out before Him; found a little access, but want the mighty faith that ’can the mountain move.’—­Wm. B.’s two daughters and daughter-in-law took tea with me, which afforded me an opportunity of conversing with them on the necessity of salvation.  Presented each of them with a pocket companion.  Providentially Mrs. R. stepped in, and prayed with us.  In the evening I met the dear people, deeply feeling my own unfitness, and greatly discouraged by their state.  To increase my difficulty, a young stranger came in to hear in silence; could get none to pray.  What shall I do?  Resolved as soon as alone to roll my burden upon the Lord, which I did, and felt encouraged.—­Five months to-day since my last letter from Richard. [Two days after she writes.] The evening post brought me a letter, and ‘all is well.’  When we had read it, we bowed before the Lord to acknowledge our gratitude.  My dear friends, B. and A., came to meet Mrs. B. to plead with the Lord on her behalf:  she obtained power to say, ‘I love Him because He first loved me;’ but durst not affirm that her sins were forgiven.—­Since the Missionary Meeting, the recollection that I, with the rest of the assembly, lifted my hand and pledged myself to increased exertion, has pressed upon my mind.  I am willing; Lord, direct my efforts! [This resolution was not ineffective, for shortly after, she initiated the York Ladies’ Missionary Sewing Meeting, which for many years proved an important source of income, and still exists, under the name of the ‘Ladies’ Repository.’]