Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Chapter 1—My Childhood[10]I was born at Gorham, Maine, November 26, 1827. My parents,Robert and Eunice Harmon, were for many years residents of thisstate. In early life they became earnest and devoted members of theMethodist Episcopal Church. In that church they held prominentconnection, and labored for the conversion of sinners, and to build upthe cause of God, for a period of forty years. During this time theyhad the joy of seeing their children, eight in number, all converted andgathered into the fold of Christ. Their decided second advent views,however, led to the separation of the family from the Methodist Churchin the year 1843.While I was but a child, my parents removed from Gorham toPortland, Maine. Here, at the age of nine years, an accident happenedto me which was to affect my whole life. In company with my twinsister and one of our schoolmates, I was crossing a common in the cityof Portland, when a girl about thirteen years of age, becoming angryat some trifle, followed us, threatening to strike us. Our parents hadtaught us never to contend with anyone, but if we were in danger ofbeing abused or injured, to hasten home at once. We were doing thiswith all speed, but the girl followed us as rapidly, with a stone in herhand. I turned my head to see how far she was behind me, and as I didso, she threw the stone, and it hit me on the nose. I was stunned by theblow and fell senseless to the ground.When consciousness returned, I found myself in a merchant’s store;my garments were covered with blood, which was pouring from mynose and streaming over the floor. A kind stranger offered to take mehome in his carriage, but I, not realizing my weakness, told him that Ipreferred to walk home rather than soil his carriage with blood. Thosepresent were not aware that my injury was so serious, and allowed meto do as I wished; but after walking only a few rods, I grew faint anddizzy. My twin sister and my schoolmate carried me home.I have no recollection of anything further for some time after theaccident. My mother said that I noticed nothing, but lay in a stupor for14