From my earliest recollection the dark, sad shadows of sickness and suffering had been over our home most of the time, until September, 1898, when Christian Science came to us; now we have health and happiness where care and sorrow had seemed to reign for many years.

My case was one of weak constitution, inherited from my mother, whose life seemed largely made up of suffering. I do not remember an afternoon in school that I did not have a headache, and many times mother would have to help me to bed as soon as I reached home so that I might sleep away the pain and nausea. I always had to be careful about my food, and as I grew older had more and more trouble from dyspepsia and sick headaches, until I was obliged to be put under a regular course of medical treatment.

After months of treatment, and with only partial relief at times, another physician was called and he tried faithfully to build me up, but I only seemed to add more ills. Then followed more examinations, and one of the physicians said I was suffering from diabetes. The other examining physician advised an operation for a serious eye trouble for which I had been under treatment by an oculist for some months.

I then went to New York and was treated a number of weeks by Dr. D., who is called one of the specialists of the world in eye troubles. I came home quite improved generally, but it was only temporary. In a few months the old troubles were renewed and another and more serious one appeared. This brought me down to the bed, where I was confined ten months. When at death's door Christian Science came to the rescue and I came back to life and health.

We called a prominent physician of Hartford to consult with the local physician. He pronounced the trouble appendicitis, but said I must be made stronger before an operation could be safely performed.

After many weeks had passed I had a relapse, and the consulting physician was again called and one of the best trained nurses of another city came to aid them. It was agreed at this time that the difficulty had become tubercular, and that inflammation of the bladder had set in.

For nine weeks they nourished me by nutritive enemas, as I could only take liquid food and in the smallest quantities. They tried to keep me comfortable by giving morphine hypodermatically. This faithful physician had talked my case over with other doctors, and finally brought it before the County Medical Board, but they were unable to suggest anything more than he was doing. After seven more weeks of patient work from this untiring nurse and physician, during which I failed rapidly, I had a second relapse, when my physician gave me up, for my stomach could no longer retain anything.

As the physician left the house he expressed sorrow at what seemed to be the inevitable. He had directed the nurse not to try to give me any more medicine, but just to use the morphine. The nurse said, "Then that is all that we can do," and he said, "Yes."

That afternoon my parents re-read a letter which we had received about a month previous from the Second Reader of the church in Denver, advising us to try Christian Science and giving the address of a practitioner in Hartford, and father took the train to go and look up the address. He told the Scientist I might not be living then, but he took my case and came out with father.

Before the morning of my first night's treatment I was able to drink three glasses of cold water, and when my nurse looked to see how the purple bed-sore was after the night without rubbing or applications, she was speechless for gladness and hope, for the flesh was white.

For my breakfast I ate bread, potato, and meat, and drank a cup of coffee. From that time I ate heartily of whatever I liked, and the little down pillow and padded ring used to keep the bones from the bed were soon dispensed with. The third night after treatment the stoppage of the bowels, which had for weeks resisted everything tried under the doctors, was relieved. When this trouble disappeared mother and the nurse were happy in the full sense of that word; father, too, was with them, and I was turning my face away from my grave, hoping for life instead of beseeching them to pray that I might die.

In five days I was able to be put in a chair. In less than two weeks was walking about my room, and in about six weeks went away on a visit of several weeks.

After mother saw what Christian Science had done for me she was ready to have the same treatment. From childhood she had never been strong, had always been troubled with dyspepsia and sick headaches, and for the last twenty years or more was rarely able to be away from home more than to take a short drive. Two severe attacks of spinal meningitis left her more feeble than before, and the old difficulties were so much aggravated that she was confined to her bed about half of nearly every week for six years; two years of the six, she did not get about the house excepting as she was moved in her chair. It was a great trial to see the sufferings of our gentle, loving mother through the many years of her invalidism, patiently hoping for some abatement of the siege of illness; but all hope was blasted by the appearance of a disease that medical testimony says has never been known to be healed.

We know now that these things were not God's realities, and were only real to the mortal sense that believed in them. They are not incurable in the light and understanding of God's healing through Christian Science; but at the time they appeared they brought the full measure of fear, for we believed them to be real. When mother commenced with the treatment she began to eat of everything that she liked. There were many struggles, but she ate, and now she says she would not know that she has any stomach.

The goitre commenced to diminish in size and the pain and choking sensation ceased, until there was nothing in appearance or sensation to indicate that she had ever had any such disease.

She also suffered from deafness that had grown upon her until she could only hear the words that were spoken loudly near by. This was also healed, and now she easily hears the clock tick from the adjoining room.

This account would not be complete without mentioning that the man who worked for father was also healed of dyspepsia. He has united with the Mother Church, and has himself successfully treated others, though he has had no advantages to gain an understanding of this Science except from the study of the books.

To say that we are grateful for such great blessings as are ours, and that we love Christian Science and love to call the Founder of this great Cause, Mother, is to express but a small part of what Love has brought to our home.