Several years ago, while doing office work in Terre Haute, Ind., I began to suffer from a general nervous breakdown, and later contracted what the doctors called chronic malaria. I went from one doctor to another, and by going home two or three times, I was able to hold my position, through the kindness of my employer, until the following spring, when I was advised that if I wanted to live I had better make a change in climate. I decided to go to northern Michigan, and securing a position before leaving home, I went to work immediately upon my arrival, although I was very weak. As I had to walk about a mile to reach the office, one leg gave out after working three days, and on the evening of the third day, the man that relieved me made a support out of two old brooms, and in this way I reached my boarding place.
For several weeks following, I was so weak that I could walk only a short distance each day. My whole system seemed to be poisoned, and I could eat only a few things; in fact, I was in about as deplorable a condition as I think any one could be. At times I would get a little better and be able to do some light work, but the next fall (two years from the time I first became sick) I was induced to go to a well-known sanitarium. While there, I was shown every kindness, but at the end of two months I was in a worse condition than when I arrived.
On Thanksgiving day, 1911, I partook of a tempting dish which was forbidden by my doctor, and that afternoon was compelled to take special treatments in order to relieve the pain. At six o'clock, while sitting in the lobby, I happened to engage in conversation with a stranger, and a remark or two which I made, revealed the fact that I had reached "man's extremity." The stranger explained about God's goodness, and seeing that I was interested, the conversation lasted two or three hours. He proved to be a Christian Scientist, and he was explaining the teachings of Christian Science.
