Chapter 13—Removal to Michigan
In 1855 the brethren in Michigan opened the way for the office of
publication to be removed to Battle Creek. At that time my husband
was owing between two and three thousand dollars, and all he had
besides the books on hand was accounts for books, and some of these
were doubtful. The cause had apparently come to a halt, orders for
publications were very few and small, and he feared that he would
die in debt. Brethren in Michigan assisted us in obtaining a lot and
building a house. The deed was made in my name, so that I could
dispose of it at pleasure after the death of my husband.
Those were days of sadness. I looked upon my three little boys,
soon, as I feared, to be left fatherless, and thoughts like these forced
themselves upon me: My husband dies of overwork in the cause of
present truth; and who realizes what he has suffered, the burdens he
has for years borne, the extreme care which has crushed his spirits
and ruined his health, bringing him to an untimely grave, leaving his
family destitute and dependent? I have often asked the question, Does
God have no care for these things? Does He pass them by unnoticed?
I was comforted to know that there is One who judgeth righteously,
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and that every sacrifice, every self-denial, and every pang of anguish
endured for His sake, is faithfully chronicled in heaven, and will bring
its reward. The day of the Lord will declare and bring to light things
that are not yet made manifest.
I was shown that God designed to raise my husband up gradually;
that we must exercise strong faith, for in every effort we should be
fiercely buffeted by Satan; that we must look away from outward
appearance, and believe. Three times a day we went alone before
God, and engaged in earnest prayer for the recovery of his health.
Frequently one of us would be prostrated by the power of God. The
Lord graciously heard our earnest cries, and my husband began to
recover. For many months our prayers ascended to heaven three times
a day for health to do the will of God. These seasons of prayer were
very precious. We were brought into a sacred nearness to God, and
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