Page:Black Jacob, a monument of grace.djvu/34

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jacob hodges.

Rev. Mr. Curtis, who at once made himself acquainted with the previous history of Jacob and his peculiar disposition.

The chaplain was forcibly struck with his fixedness of attention and his grateful emotions at the kindness he received, together with that certain manifestation of human nobleness which Jacob always exhibited even in his worst days.

At this time Jacob was extremely ignorant, he did not know his own age accurately, and could not read at all. All moral and religious truth had been kept from him, and he was yet to learn his character and destiny as an accountable and immortal being.

The chaplain came to him with the Bible, and notwithstanding his extreme ignorance and advanced age proposed to teach him to read. The first lesson he gave him was the first word in the Bible., I-n. The chaplain said to him, That word is in. Can you see how many letters there are in it? Jacob replied, Two. He was then directed to look for the same