Nearly twelve years ago my attention was specially called to Christian Science by a friend, who brought Science and Health and asked me if I did not want to read it a little while that day? I did have a curiosity to find out what Christian Science is, as I had spent a good deal of time investigating other, so-called, advanced ideas as well as reading many orthodox religious books, chiefly perhaps because these books were well written rather rather than because their theories had anything satisfying in them. I was then adrift both as to religion and the philosophy of life; near to being an agnostic, dissatisfied and unhappy.
I began to read Science and Health at eleven o'clock the night of the day it was brought to me, and although I had never done such a thing before, I began with the Preface. I looked wearily at the clock as I sat down, thinking I must read some that night, no matter if I was sleepy, weary, aching, for I had promised to do so. The very first sentence arrested my attention, and when I next looked at the clock it pointed to one. For two hours I had been perfectly oblivious of time and all aching and sleepiness had disappeared. I could have read on all night had not prudence suggested that I go to bed.
The next morning the lady came for her book and asked if I had read any of it. When I replied, "Yes, a little last night," she said, "I must have my book now, but will lend it to you again some other time." I said, "No, you need not," at which she looked quite disappointed, but I immediately gave her the money and asked her to get one for me, as I had read enough to see that I could not investigate Christian Science with a borrowed book. She made a point to get it that day, and I began and read it every moment I could possibly spare from my business, early in the morning and very late at night.
