Chapter 40—Experience
In the winter of 1864, my Willie was suddenly and violently
brought down with lung fever. We had just buried our oldest son
with this disease, and were very anxious in regard to Willie, fearing
that he, too, might die. We decided that we would not send for a physi-
cian, but do the best we could with him ourselves by the use of water,
and entreat the Lord in behalf of the child. We called in a few who
had faith to unite their prayers with ours. We had a sweet assurance of
God’s presence and blessing.
The next day Willie was very sick. He was wandering. He did
not seem to see or hear me when I spoke to him. His heart had no
regular beat, but was in a constant agitated flutter. We continued to
look to God in his behalf, and to use water freely upon his head, and a
compress constantly upon his lungs, and soon he seemed rational as
ever. He suffered severe pain in his right side, and could not lie upon
it for a moment. This pain we subdued with cold water compresses,
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varying the temperature of the water according to the degree of the
fever. We were very careful to keep his hands and feet warm.
We expected the crisis would come the seventh day. We had but
little rest during his sickness, and were obliged to give him up into
others’ care the fourth and fifth nights. My husband and myself the
fifth day felt very anxious. The child raised fresh blood, and coughed
considerably. My husband spent much time in prayer. We left our child
in careful hands that night. Before retiring my husband prayed long
and earnestly. Suddenly his burden of prayer left him, and it seemed
as though a voice spoke to him, and said, Go lie down, I will take
care of the child. I had retired sick, and could not sleep for anxiety for
several hours. I felt pressed for breath. Although sleeping in a large
chamber, I arose and opened the door into a large hall, and was at once
relieved, and soon slept. I dreamed that an experienced physician was
standing by my child, watching every breath, with one hand over his
heart, and with the other feeling his pulse. He turned to us and said,
“The crisis has passed. He has seen his worst night. He will now come
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