Perkins came in as usual to
sing with them, "Bartimeus" was the first hymn. All began it; but
some voices faltered on the first stanza, more on the second, and
soon the leader's voice was heard alone. He took up the Bible lying
on the desk, and saying, "Perhaps some wanderer would like now to
arise and go to her heavenly Father," he too read the portion of the
night before, and led in prayer. The teachers had to lengthen the
intermission at noon, because they could not bear to summon the
pupils so early from their closets.
The mission met that afternoon in the Seminary. Mr. Stoddard came
down from Seir covered with snow, saying, in his pleasant way, as he
opened the door, "We have snowed down this time;" but when he
learned the state of things, he said, very tenderly, "You must have
thought my speech untimely; I did not know God was so near; but my
heart is with you, and I hope we both shall have a large blessing."
That meeting was almost all prayer, and the weeks that followed it
witnessed a work silent but deep. It was characterized by humble
contrition, and much simple dependence on Christ. Most of those
twenty-three, before the close of the term, were hoping in his
mercy.
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