The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-18

pressed with the things We had heard. Thess
preachers did not only come 70 us. bus We fire.
Quenuy went 10 their meetings and churches.
After ] was converted. l went TO all the meetings
! could come at and continued under trouble
Of mind about s1 months al which dime l began
70 Learn the English letters, bought me a primer.
and used 70 20 10 my English neighbors frequently
for assistance in reading. but went to no school,
Samson Occom goes on 10 say that When l was
II years Of age, | had. as | trust, a discovery OF
the way Of salvation through Jesus Christ. and
vas enabled 10 put my trust IN Him alone for
life and salvation BY this time, | Just began
10 read in the New Testament without spelling,
and | had a stronger de'ira still 70 learn to read
the Word OF God. and. al the same time, had an
pity and compassion for my poor
brethren according 10 the flesh. | used Ia think,
II | could once learn TO real, ! would instruct the
poor childrpn In reaiing, and used freq uently TO
talk with our Indians concerning religion. This
] continued ill | was In my nineteenth year. and,
by this time. | could read a little In the Bible.
II was at such a crisis in the life OF this Mohegan
youth that he cam under the influence ofthe Rev.
Eleazar Wheelock Of Lebanon. who became his
instructor and friend. The youths progress
was encouraging. A specimen Of his early
academical exercises has been preserved among
the Wheelock papers at Dartmouth College. On
a sheet Of paper the Indian pupil had written the
Lords prayer in Latin, Greek and French. When
DR. Wheelock, in l1l3, took Occom into his home,
1t was without any expectation Of receiving as
sis,ance in his support, but, two years later, the
commissioners of the Society for PIopagating
the Gospel granted mn allowance Of $50, old tenor,
per annum for the maintenance Of the young
Indian. This allowance was continued while
Ia was pursuing his studies, In l7i7. alter
nearly four years IT instruction. Occom lefi Lebanon
10 take charge oi a school In some part Of New
London. In the following spring he came
under the care Of the Rev. BENJAMIN POM roy
Of Hebron. that he might be further taught,
particularly IN Hebrew. Precisely how much
Of this language lie acquired We do not know,
bu, It is said that he was able to translate passages
with ease, and his Hebrew Bible, which has sur
vivei, bears some evidences Of knowledge After
nrarl v a year Of such study, however, II became
evident that the young Indians eyes would not
permit him 10 take a college course. This was
the end ~ his education, EXCEPT such as he
acquired by himself lie was at this time. never
theless, according 10 the Rev. Samuel Buell.,
so well fitted for admission into Yale College.
that la might have entered at once upon his
second year Besides a rudlmentary knowledge
of Latin, Greek and Hebrew and Of mathematics
he is known To have studied music Ia his let
tors and sermons he shows n familiarity with
English grammar and CON position which 1t
must have bsen difficult for an Indian TO acquire.
At the same time II must not he supposed that
Occom Was a scholar Judged by present stand
ards, or even by comparison with the English
youth Of his day. His main attainment WAS a
knowledge Of the Bible, which he had studied with
ardent interest His native aptitude for Illus
tra,ing the truths Of Scripture fitted Inn 10 he.
come a useful teacher among his brethren.