p. 236 | Untitled article by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, March 24, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 15

LETTER FROM SISTER MEAD.

By James White

The following letter from our afflicted sister Mead, giving a more perfect sketch of the sufferings of herself and husband, will be read with interest. All the friends of the Lord can pray for the blessing of God to rest upon this dear family, and will be glad to learn that their prospect brightens. And a few are comforted with the fact that they have given them substantial assistance. JAMES WHITE.

Dear Bro. and Sr. White: The appeal that you have made in our behalf through the paper was quite unexpected to us. We appreciate your kindness, and receive it as an unmerited favor. We know, of course, that you must have written from memory of what you have heard from others and from us. We gave you no connected account of our afflictions, at any one time, with the dates, and, considering your numerous cares, we do not think it strange at all that your mind should not be clear in regard to the particulars and dates. With the most of the readers of the Review, it would make no difference. Others who have known the circumstances, may think a little strange. We have thought it might be well for me to write you some of the particulars, and leave it to your judgment altogether whether to make any corrections, or to let it rest as it is.

In the fall of 1859, my health failed, and I was feeble through the winter and spring with slow fevers and dyspepsia. In 1860, my husband overdid in haying, a very warm week in August. His health, never the best, sunk under it. For months, he scarcely felt able to do anything. Sometimes he has been so as to do some light work, but has never been able to endure any hardship since. When my husband's health failed, it threw an additional burden of care and hardship upon me before I had regained my strength, and in November, I ran down again with slow fever, dyspepsia, and general debility, and was all winter and spring getting up again. Was sick again the fall of 1861, and was poorly all winter. I got about so I did the work for my family a while in the summer again, but felt that my strength was weakness. The fall of 1862, my health failed again, and I have never been able to do housework since. In Sept., 1863, I had a fever, followed by congestion of the liver, and was left in a very bad state of health. Was mostly confined to my bed for a year. Then I commenced gaining very slowly so that by the aid of a cane, I began to walk about the house a little.

The first of 1866, my husband's health was the best it had been for some time. In July, he fell from the top of the barn into the yard below. I had lain down to rest. We heard the noise. The hired girl stepped to the door, and told me that he had fallen, and she feared he was killed. I sprang from the bed, and went to the window, and saw him lying perfectly motionless with the ladder upon him. The girl ran to him, and said he was dead. I told her to take the ladder from him, and turn him over. She was very much frightened, and came away, and screamed for help. I told her to go back, take off the ladder, and turn him over. She did so. I asked her if he breathed. She said, “No, he is dead.” I had not walked so far for nearly three years, but felt that I must go. I took my cane, and started. Before I reached him, I saw that he was breathing very heavily, and I sat down exhausted. Help soon came, and bore him to the house. I started to go in, but fainted on the way. For days he lay between life and death, all unconscious of his own sufferings, and the sympathy of friends around him. In about a week, he could comprehend what had happened, but was wandering in his mind at times, for some time afterward. He gained strength in a few weeks so he could walk about, but there was a very strange, unnatural feeling about his head. His mind seemed beclouded. He seemed a great deal of the time like a person bewildered. Then he sunk into a state of great debility and prostration of the nervous system, and also into great despondency and distress of mind. Since then, he has suffered a great deal as you know, in body and mind. But now, with humble gratitude, I can say I think his prospect is more encouraging.

Yours as ever, SARAH P. MEAD.