It is now almost seven years since the wondrous truth of Christian Science began to dawn upon my darkened sense, bringing the "light that never was, on sea or land," quickening into life what had lain dead through the long winter of my discontent, and lo! spring was there with its first green shoots, the tiny buds of the unfolding flower, the sweet songs of rejoicing in "the wide horizon's grander view" (Hymnal, p. 4).
I had always been "of the earth, earthy." Born under trying conditions, with cruel laws of heredity like millstones about my neck. I never knew what it meant to be strong and well, and upon reaching womanhood I thought only of how much pleasure could be sipped from moments not entirely filled with physical suffering. When not in agony, every hour was given to the vain search for the rainbow of material joys, with its legendary and illusive pot of gold.
Then came what seemed a very dark hour. After a serious operation, in which five inches of the shin-bone was removed, the wound refused to heal under the best surgical and medical aid obtainable, and the family and personal history having been well looked into, I was practically told, though with compassionate consideration, that there was nothing for me to do but give up my little home and live quietly in the country. At this time I weighed very little, and through weakness and a general poisoned condition, had had several hemorrhages from the stomach. It was then, when God's opportunity appeared through my extremity, that Christian Science was presented to me by a friend. Through sorrow, suffering, and disappointments I had long since ceased to believe in God, so that at first the religious side of this teaching did not appeal to me; but my good husband, though understanding no more of its teachings than I, urged me to press on, and while reading to me in my rebellious, discouraged moments, he was enabled to lay aside glasses which he had worn for about fourteen years.
