After years of semiinvalidism, I suffered a complete breakdown at the age of thirty. My heart, never strong, was declared by physicians of different schools to be so seriously affected that a necessary surgical operation could not be undertaken. These doctors advised frequent changes of climate and hygienic living as my only chance for even a brief span of life. I was accordingly living in the Hawaiian islands when one morning in the autumn of 1899, after a night of extreme suffering, I awoke to the realization of a serious change in my condition, and I also recalled that my youngest child and only son was in his thirteenth year and that this was the limit of time I had pleaded for in my prayer and supplication to God for a further lease of life, as I thought that my dear children would then be of sufficient years better to do without a mother's loving care and counsel. After telling my eldest daughter of my conviction as to my approaching death, and witnessing her grief, I was half ashamed of my readiness to relinquish my feeble grasp on life and thus be separated from my family. A sweet sense of God's nearness came to me, and I could but look forward with secret joy.
My daughter having left my side, a woman came to me and introduced herself as a Christian Scientist. She said she had been told of my condition, and had come to tell me that if I would look to God I could be healed. I told her I had no faith in Christian Science, as I had known of some who had failed to receive the healing. She replied that I did not need to have faith in order to be healed, and she proved the truth of her assertion, for in a brief time I was restored to health and strength. For the first time in my life of forty years I was free from a sense of pain and weakness, and I realized the truth of Isaiah's prophecy, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." So quick and remarkable was my healing that even my unbelieving relatives and friends were assured of the fact that Christian Science heals. The world of nature that I had ever loved and admired now took on new splendors, which again Isaiah describes when he says: "Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands."
I at once purchased a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, and upon reading it knew no resistance to the inspired truths therein contained, but joyfully accepted the statements as answer to my lifelong prayer for a more intimate knowledge of God. In the years which have intervened since my first reading of this book, I have never doubted the truth of any statement in the writings of our revered Leader. The Bible I had ever loved, but as I could not accept a literal interpretation I had come to know and acknowledge with bitter tears a decrease in interest and a lack of understanding; but after reading the Christian Science text-book, the Bible was illumined, and I caught wonderful glimpses of spiritual import. In time my copy of Science and Health came to be much in circulation among my friends, as I thought the joyful tidings it contained too good to be kept to myself. Living much of the time in a remote district, I had no opportunity of conversing with Christian Scientists and so failed to grasp the importance of a daily consecrated study of our Leader's works; therefore in time I sought further enlightenment from other religions and philosophies, all of which proved more or less dissatisfying. Little did I know that the book so lovingly loaned to ailing or sorrowful friends would, if carefully studied, answer satisfactorily and forever the oft-repeated query, "What is truth?" I realize now that my quest from early childhood was for the living, loving God, ever present and ever careful of His children,— and God is thus revealed to mankind through the teachings of Christian Science.
