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 'I put myself to school, that I might learn to read, and in a few months I was able to read nearly as well as my little boy. I determined that my house should be a house of prayer, and my door open to all who should chuse to come. I told my comrades that I had now begun to pray to God, and read his word every morning and evening, and that I should be glad of their company. Several attended to make sport; when I could not make out a long word then they all laughed; but I thought, now a few months ago I should have laughed at these things as well as they; but if God opens their eyes as he has mine, they will laugh no more at such things. I read on as 'yell as 1 was able. By-and by some of them became very serious, but drink and wicked company did them much injury. One of them, however, remains very stedfast to this day.’

Mr. H——— had intimated after his sermon, that I should preach at the same place next morning, precisely at nine o’clock. This, unknown to us, was the place and hour of parade every morning. At the officers’ mess in the evening, a waiter whispered to one of the officers at table, that there was to be a Sermon on the parade ground next morning, and a congregation to hear the sermon. I think, said the officer, we shall have no parade, but shall go with our men and hear the sermon; which they did accordingly.

It is probably that all this countenance given to the preaching of the Gospel, proceeded from the prudent conduct of the pious Drummer. Much of the private opposition made to the Gospel has arisen from the imprudent conduct of some of its professors.