The labors of Miss Rice, who had charge of the school (while she was
away,) have also been blessed in each of the four succeeding years.
During that time, eighteen of the pupils have been received to the
communion. The revival in the winter of 1861-62 was, however, more
interesting and extensive.
At one meeting in the Male Seminary, the young men burst into tears
while singing the hymn, "Alas, and did my Saviour bleed?" and soon
after, in the Saturday evening meeting, Miss Rice's whole school
were bowed in earnest prayer, and did not move for some time when
requested by her to retire for private devotion. On this occasion,
Mr. Cobb writes, "It was my privilege to speak a word to them, and I
can truly say that I never saw such a scene before, as, with heads
bowed down on their desks, unable wholly to repress their sobs, they
listened, and again engaged in prayer." Even then, it was only after
repeated requests that they went to their own rooms, where many
continued their supplications far into the night.
The interesting scenes of these awakenings are thus gratefully
recalled by Sanum, a convert of the first revival, in a letter dated
Salmas, June 6th, 1859:--
Beloved Teacher, Miss Fiske: I received your priceless letter with
many tears of joy, and when I read your loving, motherly counsels,
my heart was full; it was drawn to you with inexpressible love; and
when you reminded me of those blessed revivals, my eyes were
darkened with floods of tears, so that, for a time, I could not
read.
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