When I was only five years old my mother died from what the doctor called consumption. Ever since I can remember I have had a cough, and I spent many hours of the night sitting up in bed coughing. The doctor said there was no help for it as I was born with it; so it stayed with me. When nine years old I had diphtheria, and from that time until Christian Science found me I was always troubled with sore throat, and as I grew up I suffered a great deal from swollen feet.
I became very unhappy and discontented in my condition, and often wondered why God put me in this world alone without a home, and that my mother, the one I needed most, should have been taken away from me.
When a young woman I came to this country. I had only been here one year, when in lifting something very heavy I hurt my back. For two days I suffered great pain, and I was not able to take a step. The doctor was called, and he said the best for me to do was to rest all summer, go out in the country and get the fresh air, take my medicine, and not to do any work at all. I did so, and felt I had gained a little strength, but I could not say that I was at all well. In the fall I came to Chicago trying to do some work, as I felt I must earn a living. As soon as I began work all my sickness came back. The next spring I went to the country again, had a new doctor and at times felt better, but at last he told me he did not think I ever would get well. I came back to Chicago, and decided to stay here and get along the best I could. People would tell me constantly that I had consumption, and at times they were almost afraid to take me into the house, and I had gotten to the place where it seemed to me there was nothing more to live for.
