Having a due sense of your superiority over all women, It is with hesitancy and diffidence that I address you, but at the same time I remember your love for and desire to assist and uplift God's children, and am encouraged thereby to open my heart to you.
Something over two years ago I lost my husband, During his last sickness after visi ting several physicians, he was advised to receive treatment of Mrs. S. H. Crosse, and of her he bought "Science and Health,"Editorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy This treatment was something entirely new to us both, and I will say with many regrets that through my ignorance I regarded it as nothing, although I must give myself the credit of keeping my opinion from him, I noticed that he was better while under her treatment, and so anxious was I for his recovery, that I cared not how, nor by whom he was cured.
He was in the habit of reading the book and I of reading it to him, but had it been written in some unknown language I should just as fully have comprehended its meaning. How stupidly ignorant was I of its worth, and how little I imagined that it would some day be more to me than all other books, a companion to my Bible ranking next to it in value.
Last August a little word, or seed as it has proved, dropped by a dear friend of mine set me to thinking, and desiring information on the subject, I thought of the book lying idle and neglected in my possession. I turned to its pages and was surprised at the new interest which it held for me.
About this time I began to be impressed with the feeling that God had a use for me, that as I was then situated I was of no benefit to anyoneAs Written:any one, that there was something As Written: some thing which He required of me, and that something, was a devotion of my life and energies to Him. The way seemed clear, but I could not at once walk therein!Isa 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. , for I had many cares to be disposed of first, but after I decided to follow where He should lead, a sweet peace came to me, everything As Written: every thing was made so beautiful and all the rough places seemed smoothed for meIsa 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: Luke 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Luke 3:5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; .
For a number of months I have been working with this end in view, removing my cares one by one from me that my mind and time might be free.
And now I come to the object of this letter:
I have the deepest interest in this ScienceEditorial Note: Christian Science, and the most intense longing to sit at your feet and learn of you these grand beautiful Truths. But at the same time I am haunted by the fear that I am not equal to it, It seems to my weak undeveloped mind so vast and immeasurable.
Perhaps I could gather up a few crumbs, and even with these I might be content,
Tell me My Dear Lady if you think it would be possible,
I so long for one word of encouragement,
I am fully sensible of my utter unworthiness to labor for Him, but the desire to do so will not be put aside.
May I hope for an expression from you that will be of a cheering nature?
Union St. Taunton.
MassachusettsAs Written:Mass.