The claims of sickness had been upon me for over thirty years. Twice I was healed through faith; once of a tumor, and once of running ulcers; but sickness in other forms soon appeared, and I could not understand why, when I had faith enough in God to heal me of a disease, I could not keep well. The shadows came and went until life was a burden.
I was finally taken with severe spinal trouble, and for three weeks could not turn in bed without excruciating pain. Then I rallied a little, but soon became worse than ever. Then came the terrible fear that I might have to spend the rest of my days upon my couch, unless God, in His infinite mercy, raised me; but my mind was becoming so weak that I could not centre my thoughts on God or prayer. With a sick daughter and no means of support except my hands, it seemed terrible. Still I clung to the thought that God knew all about it; and I believed in some way I should yet be healed, although I knew medicine was doing me no good. One Sunday morning, a dear sister in my church came and urged me to try Christian Science. I told her that I had tried to look into it a year ago, but could not accept it; for it denied the divinity of Christ, and the Bible was no more than "Uncle Tom's Cabin." She told me the true Christian Scientists did not deny Christ. I finally consented, and grasped at what I felt to be a straw.
The dear Science healer came in a few hours. After talking with me a short time she gave me a treatment. As she arose to go she stooped and kissed my forehead and said, "You will soon realize help." Then, for the first time, a ray of hope came to me. About two hours after she went away the physician came. He gave quite a thorough examination and said, "We will try to get you out of this if possible; but it will be a long time." We dismissed him the next day. The following Wednesday I raised up in bed, and the next Sunday I had my clothes on and walked across the room several times. I obtained a copy of Science and Health from the library, and began reading at once. I was soon able to go to work, and with my first earnings I bought the book, and no money could buy it now if I could not get another.
