I should like to tell of an experience I had one winter when I was alone. It was considered the coldest night we had had that season. I left my room after a comfortable night and in my usual good health to go into the kitchen, where there were no heating pipes and everything was frozen. After being there a short time I had the sense of not knowing where I was. Although I vigorously denied that I could be without intelligence because I was surrounded by it, my feet slipped from under me and I fell to the floor with a great desire just to sleep. I knew then I was wrestling with death, and all my power went into the declaration that I could not be without strength, intelligence, and Life, as that was all that existed, and the lie of mortal sense could not make me believe otherwise.
I am unable to say how long the fight went on before a voice seemed to say to me, You had better unlock your door. I worked in Christian Science to know the source of man's strength until I could do so, and I was holding on to a table when a neighbor came to ask a question. The next thing I knew I was in bed and two neighbors were trying to make me comfortable. They had telephoned for my son, who was about a hundred miles away, and he at once got in touch with my teacher in Christian Science.
My next problem was how to meet the kindness of my dear neighbors. They kept telling me I must not expect to be the same again. I was searching for the words that would convey the depth of love and reverence I have for our dear Leader, for my healing, when her own words from page 343 of "Miscellaneous Writings" came to me: "Among the manifold soft chimes that will fill the haunted chambers of memory, this is the sweetest: 'Thou hast been faithful!' " And it is my prayer that I shall merit this benediction.
