The understanding requisite to prove Christian Science came to me without any effort to attain material benefit. In fact, when I earnestly began to study the Bible, in conjunction with Science and Health, I was ignorant of the fact that Truth understood must change the outward seeming.
A winter of unusually severe storms found me alone in a rented house in the country, having to go into the city every day to work and returning late in the evening. A coal strike compelled the use of a low grade of fuel that kept me up late into the night keeping the fires going. In order to stay awake, I read; and the only literature worth reading seemed to be the Bible and the Christian Science textbook. During these months "precept upon precept" gradually dawned on my thought in its spiritual, undeniable meaning. As one great truth after another unfolded to me, the outward appearance of things began to change. A kind neighbor gave me a helping hand; a housekeeper appeared, unsought, and took care of the provisioning problem; my relations with business associates improved; and I no longer grumbled at physical discomfort, long hours, and want of companionship. Much comfort was received from Mrs. Eddy's poem, "Mother's Evening Prayer" (Poems, p. 4), which I learned through going to church. The opening words, "O gentle presence," gave me courage and the sense of companionship I needed.
Happy in learning more and more of spiritual things, I did not look for material advancement. But early in the spring, three different positions were offered me, and I went into higher work at a salary nearly double that which I had been getting before. The position came through the recommendation of a former associate, whom I had almost forgotten. The new work afforded increased opportunities to apply what I had learned, and was an experience that, blessing me, blessed all. The gain of that trying winter, however, was the proof of Jesus' words, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
