When Christian Science came into our home I was the eldest daughter of nine children. My mother, whose life had held many a trial, eagerly drank of the healing waters of Truth and was healed. During her further study she often invited me to read with her, but I was indifferent, and generally found excuses. Occasionally, however, I sat through the reading of the Lesson-Sermon, inwardly bored and greatly relieved at its finish.
After I was married and away from home I began the study of Christian Science and, in my conceit, soon felt I had a complete grasp of the subject. Our baby developed a very severe case of eczema, which finally almost covered his head. I read by the hour from the textbook, and thought thereby that the suffering child might be helped. But Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 452), "Expect to heal simply by repeating the author's words, by right talking and wrong acting, and you will be disappointed." Not until a neighbor advised me to call in a doctor did I take the child to a Christian Science practitioner. She worked earnestly and lovingly, and in a few weeks the baby was healed. Then I began with some humility to seek the truth.
Our five children were born under Christian Science treatment, in harmonious and almost painless childbirth. But among the many demonstrations of God's healing power, the prevention of grief stands out. I had always thought that the loss of a loved one would be a shock from which I never could recover, but I have been able to go through that experience, sustained by the understanding of man's eternal life in God and of the nothingness of death. When I was called upon to earn a living, teaching in the public schools presented itself, but there were examinations in over twenty subjects to be passed. A devoted practitioner gave me help, and after a few months' study I passed with good standing and received the desired position.
