It was in the fall of 1897 that I first heard of Christian Science. At the first meeting I attended, I was healed of troubles for which I had doctored over ten years without relief. I determined to have no more to do with medicine, but to rely on divine Love for all things. Not long after that I was put to the test in a way which at the time seemed pretty hard, but I have been very thankful ever since for the lesson learned.
In April, 1898, I went to visit a friend in New Jersey, where my husband was working at the time. My friend lived in Gutenberg, N. J. There was scarlet fever next door and some of the children were still sick with it, and some enough better to go out in the yard to play. My seven-year-old daughter played with the children. We had been there about a week and a half when she complained of feeling sick,—this was on Friday. The trouble was soon overcome, and although she did not look well on Saturday, she said she was not sick, and played with the other children as usual.
About half past twelve the next morning (Sunday) I awoke to find her manifesting the symptoms of serious illness. My husband came and looked at her, and we both said, "It is scarlet fever." O how frightened I was! I had always feared it more than any other disease. I Knew of no Scientist near there, in fact, my child and I were the only ones in that neighborhood. My husband left me free to send for a doctor or not, so I told him I would rather put my darling in God's care than in the care of any doctor. My husband went back to bed and I began my battle. So great was my fear that I was trembling and my teeth chattering so that I could hardly speak. I took my Bible, which I had learned to love since I began to read it in the light of Christian Science, and our text-book. Science and Health. I tried to realize that God—unchanging Good—was present, and that sickness of whatever name, was not a power and not to be feared. For nearly four hours I knelt there trying to overcome my fear and trust God with my whole heart.
