Article May 11, 1918 Issue

"Radical reliance"

ARA BELLE PERRYMAN

In Christian Science we are often reminded that we live in perpetual nearness to God, and unnoticed opportunities for proving the presence and power of divine Love are all about us. Our daily desire and prayer should be that we may see and appropriate these opportunities.

This was impressed upon the writer in the following incident. Before and during the closing weeks of a large high school, conscientious study and thought had been given by her to know that Truth would support and guide in all the emergencies incident to the seemingly arduous days and hours. At noon one day, during examination, it was decided to go to the Christian Science reading rooms for the short rest hour, rather than spend it in the usual way in the rest room at school, and on going downstairs the halls were found full of pupils returning books to the library, passing and repassing from examination rooms. A little girl not known to the writer stood by the staircase. She replied so listlessly to the "Good-morning" that there came an impulse to speak further with her. "Were your examinations difficult?" the teacher asked. "I did not have to take any examinations," was the reply. This was an honor in the school, but the child's face showed no pleasure in the fact. Persistence in talking to her caused her to burst into tears. She then said that she had lost a twenty-dollar bill and dreaded to go home. The teacher was startled and took her to the office of the all too busy principal, where they heard her story.

Before starting to school to return her books that morning the girl had been intrusted by her mother with a twenty-dollar bill with which to pay the rent. Because she was only fourteen years old and had never transacted any business, the mother had given careful instructions, and had herself folded the bill tightly and placed it in the bottom of the purse. When the girl came to school she found a long line of pupils waiting in the library, so went to town to attend to the business matter first. She stopped at a bookstore to make a small purchase, went to another store on an errand, then to the office to pay the rent, but upon opening her purse she found that the bill was not there. She hurried back to both stores and told of her loss, the clerks promising to let her know if the money was found. She then came to school and searched diligently, but without finding the bill.

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