Well, going down to certain meetings then about to be held at Oxford one day, I met at the railway station a Christian brother in a humble sphere of life, whom I knew as one of the godliest men it was ever my privilege to meet, a man of prayer, a man of faith, a man whose very face told you something of the peace of God which reigned within.

We met on the platform, and he told me he was going to Oxford too. We talked together, walking up and down the platform, and then in the carriage when we got in. I had many burdens on my mind then, and was feeling sad and downcast about them. I suppose I showed my grief in the expression of my face, for he said to me in a tone of very sincere sympathy, when we were in the railway carriage alone, "How is your work going on?" Then I told him all about my heavy burdens. We were alone. This man of God thought for a moment, and then he turned to me and said, "If God shows you that your proposed scheme is too large, and that you should give it up, are you prepared to give it up? " I thought for a moment too. I thought if God's approval and blessing were not with me, it was better I did not succeed from an earthly point of view. So I said, “Yes; I am quite prepared." He replied, after a moment's pause, "We are going down to, Oxford for a special purpose, for spiritual refreshment. Let us here, in this carriage, alone, kneel down and commit your case to God, and let us ask Him, if it be His will, to show you clearly, before you leave Oxford, whether you should go on or turn back."

We knelt down together in that carriage. We committed the case of the children to God. We rose up after prayer, lightened and refreshed. We soon reached our journey's end. I went to my hotel. My friend said "Good bye" He was stopping somewhere else, but he arranged to breakfast with me at the hotel at eight o'clock the next morning.

Well, in the morning, while I was dressing, a man came to the door and knocked. I thought it was the servant bringing up hot water. I said, "Come in." The door was opened just about wide enough for a man to shove his head in. A head was thrust in, but so that I could hardly see who the owner of it was. His hair was all dishevelled, and he was evidently not yet fully dressed.

“Is your name Barnardo?" he asked.
I said, "Yes."
”you are thinking of building a Village for little girls at Ilford are you not?” “You want some cottages?"
Well, I was scarcely able to answer him. But I said, "Yes, yes."
He asked, "Have you got any?" never coming in beyond putting his head through the door.
I replied, "No not yet."
"Well," he cried, "put me down for the first cottage. Good morning," and away he went.

But as to putting him down, I did not know his name; I had not seen his face properly. I rushed down the corridor after him, and caught him. I said, " You must come back." I got him    back into the room. What was the history of his gift?

He had a dear child, a daughter, whom he had lost some months before; and he had resolved in his mind to commemorate that    daughter by rearing some institution, such as his means would enable him to do.    He had heard of our work, and had deter    mined to help us, but had hitherto done nothing. The appeal in The Christian came before him and his wife, and they said to each other, "This is what we will do; we can afford that amount. We       will build one of these cottages for little destitute girls." He never sent me word of his intention, but down there at Oxford, whither I had gone after having specially asked God's guidance, the message came to me in that striking manner. In the morning,      while he was dressing, he had asked the “boots" Who has arrived lately?"    The man replied, "I will get you the book, and you can see." He went down and got him the book of arrivals. There was my name and my room number On the spur of the moment, in his   impulsive way, he dashed away, without finishing his dressing, he got to my room, just opened the door, and made his announcement in the fashion I have told you. I need not assure you we did not leave that bedroom without both prayer and praise.

I went presently down to the breakfast room. My poor rich friend of the. Previous night was there by appointment. When I came up to him, I suppose he saw in my face an expression, somewhat different from that of the former evening, and he just' looked at me, and then quietly said, “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." And we together there and then gave God thanks for that wonderful answer to prayer. Now, that is the history of the first cottage.

No sooner had this money been paid over that more followed in quick succession, and some in quite remarkable ways. This gave Thomas a new boost for his plan of a Girls Village Home. In 1875 Myrtle Cottage was built as promised within the grounds of The Girls Village Home and it had the inscription "Erected by AE. D. in memory of an only daughter" the benefactors were Mr. and Mrs Zaneous Dawson. It was a two storied building in the Elizabethan  style, with cosy looking overhanging eves. built in a red brick.

Source information:
'Barnardo' Gillian Wagner
'Memoirs Of The Late Dr. Barnardo' Mrs. Barnardo and James Marchant.
The Barnardo Guild magazine.

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