I was summoned, by telegraph, to a friend in a distant town. Hastily obeying the call, I found when I reached the home, that she had been for days under a belief of mental aberration. The family were in a state of great anxiety; and, the moment I entered the house, I felt their fear. Feeling that I must have one of the "exceeding great and precious promises" which never fail, I took my Bible, which opened at the 41st chapter of Isaiah, and read: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee. . . .
"For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee," etc.
In an instant I knew I had found my staff. I went, with Bible in hand, to the bedside of my patient. As I seated myself by her side, she looked at me with a wild, startled look, drawing away in affright. Directly I began to read the blessed words; over and over again I read them, at the same time holding to the thought of the omnipotence of God. At first she did not seem to hear, but soon began to listen. Little by little the strained, scared look faded from her face, and an expression of quiet and peace took its place. Closing her eyes, she drank in the words of Life; and I knew that Truth was doing its work. Still I read the strength-giving promises, knowing that she was safe in the One Mind; with a long-drawn, tremulous sigh, she said in a whisper, "Oh, it rests me so!" The light had come; she recognized the falsity of the claim, and arose "clothed and in her right mind." With eagerness she reached out for a clear understanding of the Truth that had made her free; but, though conscious to a degree of her freedom, she still saw "men as trees walking." I was called to another patient, and left her studying her Bible and Science and Health, seeking for the clear light. A few days afterward I returned, and she met me at the door. I think I never saw a face so illumined with the light of joy as she exclaimed: "Oh, C—, I have found my verse!" adding, "I see it was expedient that personality should go away." Then she told me that it had seemed to her she could not let me go; that she could not work out this problem alone; that I must stay and help her—but that when left to herself, she sought refuge in the Word, and this was given her:— "They helped every one his neighbor: and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smoothed with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the soldering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved." She had been "encouraged" and "helped," she had heard the words, "Be of good courage"; but she knew that she must not lean upon an arm of flesh: then, recognizing that her feet were upon the Rock—the sure foundation—she also saw that the Truth had "fastened it with nails," that she should not be moved; and this consciousness brought to her a flood of light. A year has passed, and she stands firm; growing in understanding, walking in the light with steadfast faith—unwavering, because "It is fastened with nails, that it shall not be moved."—
