During the training period for a crew race in which I was to take part, I was unable to sleep for four or five nights owing to a painful ulcerated tooth. I became so ill that it seemed necessary that I return to my home city, seventy-five miles distant. Upon arrival there I went to a dentist, who relieved the condition somewhat, and I then started on the return journey to the crew quarters, believing that I should have no further trouble with my tooth. On the way, I stopped for the night at the home of some friends. The next morning I awoke so ill that my friends, alarmed at my condition, called a physician, who, when learning it was my intention to row in a four-mile intercollegiate race within three weeks, strongly advised me not to think of it, warning me that in his opinion I should not live through it. A friend accompanied me back to my home. I had given up all hope of rowing that season; I seemed to be in an extremely weakened condition, and had lost much weight.
My mother had been a student of Christian Science for several years, and at my request a Christian Science practitioner was called. She sat at my bedside, and said she was going to read aloud, and that I might listen if I wished. She then began to read from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. I think I must have fallen asleep, for I do not remember when she left my room. The abcess broke during the night. A sense of the presence of Love filled my consciousness and in a few days I felt so well that I decided to return again to the crew quarters. After a few days there, the coach directed me to take my usual position in the eight, and I was able to complete satisfactorily the remainder of the training period of about two weeks.
The practitioner said she would continue her Christian Science treatment in my behalf, up to and including the day of the race. On that day our crew took second place. There were six or seven universities represented.
