Although I gave the facts herein stated at a Wednesday evening meeting some years ago, I feel that they deserve a wider circulation than that testimony could give them. Some time during the year 1899 I was suffering from a goiter that the physicians who knew my case said must end my earthly existence within a few weeks. Friends had made arrangements, in view of the inevitable, as they regarded it, to place my two children with relatives. In this apparent emergency, my sister, who had been helped by Christian Science, suggested to me that I try it. I, however, scoffed at the notion that what my physician could not do could be done by any other agency. As the lady who had helped my sister had been her family physician for several years, I had great confidence in her ability, so I condescended, as I regarded my consent, to let her treat me. I must here remark that this former physician was a very young student of Christian Science, who had not then, I believe, received class instruction. My impression that I must soon go was strengthened by the death of a former doctor who succumbed to the same disease a few months before I was told that my case was hopeless.
I did not feel much change from the Christian Science treatment, but was still able to go about the house and even to go out. After two weeks of treatment I had occasion to walk a couple of miles during a rainstorm to visit a relative who was ailing. On the way I got very wet and cold. As I sat by the fire warming myself my brother-in-law asked me how the disease was progressing. I put my hand to my throat and to my great surprise the goiter was no longer there.
At the time the disease had first assumed a very threatening appearance, I had recently been left without help to support myself and two children, but had managed to maintain an existence, although I was very poor financially as well as physically, as may be seen by the sequel. I was greatly reduced in weight. In my dire necessity I read a "want"' advertisement for a laundress, applied for it, and was engaged. As the place was about twenty miles distant the puzzle was how to get there. I placed my older child with relatives, sold my little household goods and got just enough money to pay my fare to the town. I took my little girl with me, and when presenting myself at the place, which was a hotel, I was asked how I proposed to dispose of the child. I said I hoped to find a boarding-place for her, and was referred to the housekeeper, who very kindly took charge of her. Those who remarked my apparently weak condition predicted that I would last about three weeks, but I filled the place ten months and steadily grew stronger in spite of the hard work. When I left the place it was because the proprietor secured better employment for me.
