ought to say.

'But I need hardly tell you that this left me in a state of no slight
excitement, and that I should be much comforted by hearing what you
and Father and Joan think of my behaviour.

'Meanwhile, there are some very nice people; I dearly love some of
the boys and girls; and I do pray that this plan of a boys' home may
save some from contamination. I, seated with Sanders last night,
found him and his wife very hearty about it. I have only mentioned
it to three people, but I rather wish it to be talked about a little
now, that they may be curious, &c., to know exactly what I mean to
do. The two cottages, with plenty of room for the Fley's family and
eight boys, with half an acre of garden at £11. 5s. the year. I
shall of course begin with only one or two boys--the thing may not
answer at all; but everyone, Gardiner, several farmers, and two or
three others, quite poor, in different places, all say it must work
well, with God's blessing. I do not really wish to be scheming away,
working a favourite hobby, &c., but I do believe this to be
absolutely essential. The profligacy and impurity of the poor is
beyond all belief. Every mother of a family answers (I mean every
honest respectable mother of a family): "Oh sir, God will bless such
a work, and it is for want of this that so much misery and
wretchedness abound." I believe that for a year or so it will
exhaust most of my money, but then it is one of the best uses to
which I can apply it; for my theory is, that help and assistance is
wanted in this way, and I would wish to make most of these things
self-supporting. Half an acre more of garden, thoroughly well worked,
will yield an astonishing return, and I look to Mary as a person of
really economical habits. It is a great relief to have poured all