before God; and, believing it to be His will that
he should try to provide some place of rest for these little ones, he
took a house large enough to contain thirty girls.

Rather a remarkable thing happened in connection with the opening of
the Home. The money had been supplied, and preparations had been made
to receive the children, but none sought admission!

Mueller cast about in his mind as to why this should be so, and he
discovered that whilst he had asked God for money to open the Home and
for helpers, he had forgotten to pray that the children might be sent;
and to this he attributed such a strange occurrence.

Still, the omission was soon rectified, and the Home ere long teemed
with children.

This was in 1834. From such a small beginning the great Orphan Homes
on Ashley Down sprang. Every need connected with the progress of the
work was made the subject of prayer by George Mueller and his earnest
band of workers.

Again and again he has not known where to turn for the next meal for
his orphans; but, as if by a miracle, supplies have been _always_
forthcoming. Though often in great straits Mr. Mueller has never asked
for help except of God, and _never_ has that help been denied.

The following extract from his journal will show the trials to which
Mr. Mueller has been subjected: "Never were we so reduced in funds as
to-day. There was not a single halfpenny in hand between the matrons
of the three orphan houses. There was a good dinner, and by managing
to help one another by bread, etc., there was a prospect of getting
over the day also; but for none of the houses had we the prospect of
being able to take in bread. When I left the brethren and sisters at
one o'clock after prayer I told them that we must wait for help, and
see how the Lord would deliver us this time." About twenty yards from
his home he met a person interested in the Homes who gave him L20.
This is but a sample of many occasions upon which, having waited upon
God in simple faith, help has arrived at the very hour it has been
needed.

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 M