Then the good man, who was so distressed that day
because he could see no impression made by the sermon, thanked God
and took courage. Not willing to devote Monday to Yakob alone, he
conversed with another of the same name, and he too went away
weeping to his closet. The two had been in the recitation room but a
little while before their feelings became so intense that they had
to ask leave to retire. "It is God!" "It is God!" was whispered from
seat to seat; and at noon a group collected to discuss what was to
be done. One proposed to rise up against the work, and put it down;
but at length Yonan of Geog Tapa said, "I don't want to be a
Christian; I don't mean to be; but I am afraid to oppose this; we
had better let it alone. If it is God's work we cannot put it down,
and if it is man's work it will come to nought without our
interference." Nothing more was said, but before school commenced
that afternoon, some of those boys were on their knees in prayer.
In the evening, Mr. Stoddard sent for two leaders in the opposition,
very promising scholars, but of late forward in every thing that was
evil--one of them this Yonan, and as he himself told afterwards:
"Mr.
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