When I first heard of Christian Science I thought that those who denied the testimony of their eyes and other senses, were not quite normal; and though I had received from my sister a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, it stood for several years untouched in my bookcase. One day I became ill with what the doctors called brain fever, and as there was no hope for recovery, word to that effect was sent to my brothers and sisters, among them the sister who was a Christian Scientist, then residing in America. I myself was aware of nothing except a very severe headache. Afterwards I was told that the physicians one morning had said that I could not live through the day, but in the afternoon, to the astonishment of all, I was free from fever and all right. I did not then know what had brought about this improvement, but after some weeks I received a letter from my sister in America in which she told me that on hearing of my condition she had at once commenced to declare the truth; and that was the day this wonderful change took place. Still I thought it very childish, though lovable, of my sister.
A couple of days after the above-mentioned recovery what is known as thrombosis appeared in my left leg and I had to stay in bed for three months. Subsequently I got six months' leave for recreation, and when packing my trunks to go away I came upon my copy of Science and Health and decided to take it with me and read it through. I had not read many pages, when I realized that this was the truth,—just what I had always thought Christianity ought to be; so I read all the days long, and felt unspeakably happy, though there was much I did not understand. The latter part of that summer I spent with a Christian Scientist in Norway. Up to that time I had used a cane for support and my leg had been bandaged. The cane I put away, but when for one day only I did not wear the bandage the leg became very swollen and painful, and so heavy that I could hardly walk. The first day I spent with the Christian Scientist she told me I did not need the bandage, and that was indeed the last of it. After that I could run and take long walks without any inconvenience.
Since then I have had several tests of God's almightiness. One evening I fell down the cellar stairs and hurt my foot very badly. The pain was intense. I was carried up to my bedroom and there I declared the truth. In a little while I could walk over the floor. As I am filling a position as headmistress of a sanatorium, I had to have my foot examined by the doctor two days later. I was told that a bone was broken in the instep and that I should either stay in bed or have the foot in an iron support, but I did not do anything of the kind; instead I wrote to a Scientist and asked for help. In three or four days I was healed. At another time blood poisoning set in; and as fear took hold of me I telegraphed to a practitioner for treatment, with the result that I was healed the next day. Many other ills have been overcome for me through the application of the truth as taught in Science and Health.
