Chapter XVIII - Fruitage
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able to walk or stand alone. Later, a growing weakness
able to walk or stand alone. Later, a growing weakness
of the back accompanied with sharp pains alarmed my
parents, who called a physician, and he pronounced it
spinal trouble. Then followed nearly twenty years of
increased suffering, at times very severe. As years went
by and I became a wife and mother, my suffering in-
creased. Everything that medical skill could do was
done, but finding no lasting benefit from anything, I lost
hope of recovery.
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When Christian Science found me I was under the
When Christian Science found me I was under the
doctor's sentence that if I lived the week through I would
become entirely helpless, not able to move hand or foot.
My husband was a travelling man, and being urgently
called home, he met an old friend on the train who asked
why we did not try Christian Science. The reply, We
know nothing of it, was followed by a brief explanation
of its healing power and the benefit his family had re-
ceived. This inspired my husband with new hope, and
on his arrival at home he called on a practitioner, who
recommended our getting Science and Health, which we
did, but ignorance and the prejudice of old education
produced such fear that I hid the book under the covers
of the bed whenever the children came into the room,
fearing that it was not of God and would injure them.
God's dear love was, however, more potent than these
foolish fears, and the first day I read from its sacred pages
I was convinced its teachings were the same truths as
Jesus Christ had taught centuries ago. When I had read
a few pages, I reached out and threw my medicine from the
open window at the head of my bed. I then turned back to
the book and began reading again, when, lo, the Christ-idea
dawned upon me, and I was healed instantaneously.
633:1
I first noticed the spot in my back cooling, and soon
I first noticed the spot in my back cooling, and soon
I got out of bed. I continued to read eagerly; I felt as
if I wanted to devour the healing truth, and drank it in
as a thirsty plant does the gentle rain. When dinner was
prepared, I walked out and ate a hearty meal with the
family, to the amazement of all. We shall never forget
what a joyful meal this was. How we did thank God
for Christian Science!
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As year after year has gone by, till twenty years have
As year after year has gone by, till twenty years have
passed and the healing has remained perfect, I have
grown to thank God with deeper sincerity that one brave
woman was found pure enough to bring forth this Christ‑
healing again, to remain forever among men and to save
suffering humanity from all disease and sin. – Mrs.
P. L. H., Fairmont, Minn.
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FROM DESPAIR TO HOPE AND JOY
FROM DESPAIR TO HOPE AND JOY
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I have often had a desire to make public what Chris-
I have often had a desire to make public what Chris-
tian Science has done for me, but I never could tell of
all my blessings, they are so many. From childhood
I was always sick, never knew one hour of rest, and was
under the doctor's care most of the time. I was living in
the East at that time, and was advised to try change of
climate, which I did. I came West with my family in
the spring of the year, but instead of growing better I
grew steadily worse, until at last I was obliged to keep
my bed for nearly three years, – a great sufferer. My
ailments were, it seemed, all that flesh is heir to, and
were called incurable by the doctors; viz., Bright's dis-
ease, and many others, – in the last stages. My case was
known among physicians, many of whom were prominent