In August, 1893, I went to Lynn, Mass., to see a noted specialist. He decided I had a dangerous disease on the cheek, which had been caused by a blow received about seven years before. After an examination I submitted to a very painful operation, and returned home in about three weeks. In October, 1899, I went back to the same doctor and had another operation for the same trouble, in the same place, but worse than before. He did not think it would do much good to remove the growth, but he did operate, and I came home in a very weak condition. The next spring, in trying to work, I found I could do but little, and continued to have trouble with my face. I did some work, but was nervous and slept little.
In the winter of 1901 I was very ill and frequently coir lapsed. The doctor told my son not to be surprised to hear of my death at any time. He said the disease was all through my system, and affected the heart, so that there was nothing to be done. I was a member of an orthodox church, and prayed earnestly to be healed, but I continued to grow worse and felt that I should soon pass away. About this time, June, 1901, a friend who was a Christian Scientist asked me to come down to their meetings, as she felt sure I could be healed. I said I would go, and I did, and what a change, from no faith to great faith, before the meeting was half-way through! The silent prayer, the hush over all, — "Surely God is here!" I thought. I wanted to know more, so I bought a copy of Science and Health, also the Journal and Sentinel. I came home and read Science and Health till eleven o'clock, then went to bed and got about two hours' sleep, — the first sweet, natural sleep I had had for months. I read a great deal the next day, doing some work; retired at twelve o'clock and slept the rest of the night. I got up feeling almost as well as ever. I had arranged for the cutting of ten tons of hay by a neighbor, but I now decided to do it myself, and I did it. Feeling that I had but a grain of the truth, I took two weeks' treatment of a practitioner, and now call myself a well man, not having missed a meal that I can remember since that time. The physician had said, "You must give up work," but I have done just the opposite; for I know there is no power aside from God, and His law is the only law to be obeyed.
I destroyed all the drugs I had and have never taken one drop of medicine since. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to our heavenly Father, and to our dear Leader, who I believe was spiritually directed to do His work.
