In the spring of 1898, while working in the field, I suddenly...

In the spring of 1898, while working in the field, I suddenly became very ill, and had to have the assistance of my wife to get to the house. As soon as I could, I sent for a doctor, who made me a few visits. I grew no better but rather worse, so I changed physicians. I tried another physician, the best that I could find, but he could give me no relief, and finally my people sent for the Danish minister to come to see me, as they thought I was going to die. For eight weeks I sat in one room, could never lie down at all, and only moved from my chair when I was carried. During all these hard times my family lived on the wages my wife could earn by washing. I had an income from two Danish "sick benefit" societies, which I had joined long before, but all the money I drew from these societies went to pay my doctor's bills. We had three little children.

A lady who knew of my distress came to me one day and asked me to try Christian Science. I did not know what this could be, but she said she knew it could help me. After the first treatment I asked my wife to throw away the atomizer and all the drugs, for I saw that I could get along without them, although I did not understand English very well and all the talk about the Bible was new to me. I can never forget the 91st Psalm as it was read to me at my first treatment. The practitioner gave me an English Bible, but I could not read a word of it. I would read a little from the Danish Bible and then a little from the English, until I learned to read from Science and Health, and now I can read and speak English quite well.

I think I had great help in getting well by giving up the income from the sick benefit societies. The first one I had to refuse because they wanted me to get a certificate from the doctor that I was sick, and Science and Health told me I was well. This society had given me six dollars a week, and though I could not work I gave up the other pension also, which was five dollars a week. I felt that it was dishonest to take this money. It was pretty hard to do this, for all my Danish friends opposed me and my wife thought she could not get along without the money, but I had to do it. I was under treatment for a year and a half. I afterwards had a bad fall, which injured my leg, and it took me quite a long time before I could walk. I have had hard trials, but they are over now.

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