Thomas Hoopoo attended a mission school for Indians. After some time he went with a Christian friend to New Brunswick to a preacher's house to stay.
On the day of their arrival, a select company were invited to spend the evening with a celebrated lawyer whose home was in the town. Thomas, who was about 16 years old, went with them.
The brilliant lawyer, who was not a true Christian, entertained the company for a long time with asking Thomas questions. He quizzed him unmercifully about his people; their customs, manners, pleasures and especially about their religion as compared with Christianity. When at last he ceased, Thomas spoke out before them all.
"I am a poor heathen boy," he said. "It is not strange that my blunders should amuse you. But soon there will be a larger meeting than this. We shall all be there. They will ask us all but one question: "Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?"
"Now, sir, I think I can say, Yes. What will you say, sir?"
He stopped. A death-like stillness pervaded the room. Soon the party broke up and all retired to their respective homes for the night.
But there was no rest for the great attorney. The question asked by Thomas Hoopoo kept ringing in his ears: "What will you say, sir?"
The Spirit of God had touched his conscience, and he found no rest till he could answer in the affirmative the searching question leveled by that poor illiterate boy.