Like a great many who served as soldiers, four years and five months, during the war of the Rebellion, when I got back home I had to bring some claims with me, which grew in strength year by year until, in 1887, I had to give up all kinds of work. Five or six doctors gave me up, and told my wife to move me to this place, which she did in July, 1888. I was at that time so reduced in flesh and strength that the folks and my doctor said there was no use trying to do any thing for me.
I was paid an insurance on account of being declared totally disabled from any and all kinds of labor. I kept staying on, taking medicine, and doing everything to live. A good friend of mine, an engineer, got off his engine, seeing me in my garden leaning on my hoe, on the seventeenth of May, 1894; he shook hands with me, and asked me if I would like to get well. I told him of course I would, but I said there was no use trying any longer, as I had tried everything, but was getting weaker and would soon go.
My friend said, "There is help for you in Christian Science." I told him I had not heard of it. He let me take a little book to read. I dropped my hoe and went into the house, and my friend went on his engine, saying he would be down soon to see me.
