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JACOB HODGES. 27
letters on other pages of the Bible, and
soon learned to understand the difference
between letters which resembled each
other, till he comprehended their force
when combined in words.
Being informed of the great truths which
were contained in the Bible, which ht
might yet read for himself and more fully
understand, Jacob was stimulated to con¬
stant exertion, till he was able to study out
short sentences alone, which the chaplain
in his frequent visits to his cell would
explain and apply to his individual case.
It was not long before more than com¬
mon interest was manifested by Jacob for
his spiritual condition. He awoke to the
melancholy fact that he was a lost and
ruined sinner. It was from the faithful
instructions of the chaplain that he re¬
ceived his first religious impressions, and
they were from the beginning of a pecu¬
liarly marked and decided character.
He repeatedly gave to his friends a
minute account of the operations of his
mind and his religious experience while