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Selected Messages Book 2
“I should be glad to borrow them this morning,” I said. Putting
on the boots and starting out, I tracked a quarter of a mile in the deep
snow. On my return, I asked my husband to take a walk. He said he
could not go out in such weather. “Oh, yes, you can,” I replied. “Surely
you can step in my tracks.” He was a man who had great respect for
women; and when he saw my tracks, he thought that if a woman could
walk in that snow, he could. That morning he took his usual walk.
In the spring there were fruit trees to be set out and garden to be
made. “Willie,” I said, “please buy three hoes and three rakes. Be
sure to buy three of each.” When he brought them to me, I told him
to take one of the hoes, and Father another. Father objected, but took
one. Taking one myself, we began work; and although I blistered my
hands, I led them in the hoeing. Father could not do much, but he went
through the motions. It was by such methods as these, that I tried to
cooperate with God in restoring my husband to health. And oh, how
the Lord blessed us!
I always took my husband with me when I went out driving. And I
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took him with me when I went to preach at any place. I had a regular
circuit of meetings. I could not persuade him to go into the desk while
I preached. Finally, after many, many months, I said to him, “Now, my
husband, you are going into the desk today.” He did not want to go,
but I would not yield. I took him up into the desk with me. That day
he spoke to the people. Although the meetinghouse was filled with
unbelievers, for half an hour I could not refrain from weeping. My
heart was overflowing with joy and gratitude. I knew that the victory
had been gained.
Rewarded for Persistent Effort
After eighteen months of constant cooperation with God in the ef-
fort to restore my husband to health, I took him home again. Presenting
him to his parents, I said, “Father, Mother, here is your son.”
“Ellen,” said his mother, “you have no one but God and yourself to
thank for this wonderful restoration. Your energies have accomplished
it.”
After his recovery, my husband lived for a number of years, during
which time he did the best work of his life. Did not those added