When Christian Science was offered to me it was for the healing of spiritual unrest. All that I had been taught had fallen away as no longer acceptable. At last I dropped out of all church attendance and activities for three unhappy years. In this time I did not look into a Bible, although we had eleven in the house.
When I had exhausted many philosophies and isms, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy was put into my hands, and for three weeks I read sixteen hours a day, although up to this time I had believed that reading more than half an hour at a time caused great pain. After reading for some time the first evening, I remembered my former experiences, but the thought came that if the statements in that book were true it could not hurt me to read it, and it did not.
In three weeks' time my test came. I was alone in the house one night when I was awakened by the sound of the baby struggling for breath. Seized with fear I lifted her from her crib and sat in bed wondering what to do, as it would be impossible to get human help soon enough. I had done all this interesting reading with a mental reservation; but now my time for proof had come. As I held her close I thought, If what I have been reading is true, God can heal her; surely God is more powerful than a germ. And the prayer rose, O God, if there is a God, I do believe; "help thou mine unbelief." Immediately the baby began breathing naturally, and it was as if a voice had said, "I am God." I had found the "pearl of great price."
