Some paragraphs in Mueller’s yearly reports read almost like a fairy story, only they are far more beautiful, being a record of facts.  Thus in May, 1892, when the financial year of the institution began, they had in hand for their School, Bible, Missionary and Tract funds only L17 8s. 5-1/2 d.

In June of that year a packet was found at Hereford Railway Station containing eleven sovereigns, addressed to Mr. Mueller, with nothing but these words inside, “From a Cheerful Giver, Bristol, for Jesus’ Sake”.  In the same month came L100, “from two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in Heaven”.

A Newcastle man wrote that though finances were low he doubled the sum usually sent to the institution, “in faith and also with much joy”.  A sick missionary in the wilds of Africa sent L44 17s. 5d., being apparently all the money he possessed.

“Again and again,” writes Mr. Mueller, “I have had cheques amounting even to L5000, from individuals whose names I knew not before receiving their donations.”

Other paragraphs in the report read thus:  “Received anonymously five large cheeses; received a box of dessert knives and forks, a cruet, a silver soup ladle and a silver cup; from Clifton, twelve tons house coals; from Bedminster, a monster loaf, 200 lbs. in weight, and ten feet long and twenty-one inches broad”.

On 1st August L82 5s. came “from a Christian gentleman in Devon, who for more than forty-five years has from time to time helped us, though I have never seen him”.

“To-day,” writes Mueller on 7th September, “our income altogether was about L300—­a plain proof that we do not wait on the Lord in vain; for every donation we receive is a direct answer to prayer, because we never ask a single human being for anything.”  On 29th October Mr. Mueller writes:  “For several days very little has come in for the support of the various objects of the institution.  To-day, again, only about L15 was received by the first four deliveries of letters; at 5:45 I had for the third time that day prayer with my dear wife, entreating God to help us, and a little after 6 p.m. came a cheque for L200 by the fifth delivery, from Edinburgh.”

A gold chain and watch-key, two gold brooches, and a pair of earrings were sent to Mr. Mueller, with the following comment:  “My wife and I having, through the exceeding riches of God’s grace, been brought to the Lord Jesus, wish to lay aside the perishing gold of the world for the unsearchable riches of Christ, and send the enclosed for the support of the orphans”.

The above are from a single yearly report—­that for 1893.  Scores of similar donations in money and kind are recounted in the same annual statement.  In that year Mr. Mueller was able to speak of his conversion as having taken place nearly sixty-eight years ago.  The work has been wonderfully blessed.  In the report mentioned Mr. Mueller stated that the total amount he had received by prayer and faith for the various objects of his institutions, since 5th March, 1834, had been L1,309,627; that no fewer than 8727 children had been under his care; and that he had room at his Homes for 2050 orphans.