In December, 1905, I was compelled to return home after making an attempt to start out on my regular work, that of traveling salesman. For about ten days I had been slowly yielding to an attack of what materia medico called bronchial pneumonia, and in the evening of a particular day I was unable to breathe, except with the utmost difficulty and severe pain. Added to this physical distress was an overwhelming sense of fear, because about seven years previous to this I had been laid up with this same trouble and had been told by my physician at that time to look out that it did not occur again, for if it did, it would be the last time. With a large family dependent upon me, I was very much discouraged, but it drove me to the help that is always available.
Feeling that it would do no good to call a doctor because of the sentence already pronounced, I startled my family by calling a Christian Science practitioner and asking that she begin work for me at once and call to see me in the morning. This was done, and the first question asked by the practitioner was whether I was taking medicine, and then she explained that I must decide between that and Christian Science. This seemed so much like common sense to me, that after a moment's thought I said, "I have sent for you, to test Christian Science, and am willing to do as you say." I will add right here that I have never taken one particle of medicine in any form from that day to this, and the same is true of my family of eight children. After what seemed to me a very brief call the practitioner took her departure, assuring me that if I had any business I might get up and attend to it and God would take care of me.
Before the practitioner came my body was racked with pain and I was seemingly without strength enough to turn over in bed, but now I took God at His word, and with the conviction that I could go about my business came the strength to do it. I arose and dressed, and after attending to some duties about the house, sat down to a hearty dinner, a thing which I had not done for nearly two weeks. I then took the train and journeyed one hundred and thirty three miles, arriving at my destination just in time for supper, which was much enjoyed, because of the freedom and absence of fear and pain. I had read Christian Science literature on this journey, and all the rest of the week I continued to read. It seemed to me that life was all before me, and discouragement had vanished with my aches and pains. I felt happy and buoyant. I began to see that God really loved me, that He had never done anything else but love me. My fellow man also looked different to me, and I wanted to help everybody, and above all I wanted to tell every one of my healing.
