Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

When consciousness returned, I found myself in a merchant’s store; my garmentswere covered with blood, which was pouring from my nose and streaming over thefloor. A kind stranger offered to take me home in his carriage, but I, not realizing myweakness, told him that I preferred to walk home rather than soil his carriage withblood. Those present 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 and dizzy. My twinsister and my schoolmate carried me home.I have no recollection of anything further for some time after the accident. Mymother said that I noticed nothing, but lay in a stupor for three weeks. No one butherself thought it possible for me to recover; but for some reason she felt that I wouldlive. A kind neighbor, who had been very much interested in my behalf, at one timethought me to be dying. She wished to purchase a burial robe for me, but my mothersaid, Not yet; for something told her that I would not die.When I again aroused to consciousness, it seemed to me that I had been asleep. Idid not remember the accident, and was ignorant of the cause of my illness. As I beganto gain a little strength, my curiosity was aroused by overhearing those who came tovisit me say: “What a pity!” “I should not have known her,” etc. I asked for a lookingglass, and upon gazing into it, was shocked at the change in my appearance. Everyfeature of my face seemed changed. The bones of my nose had been broken, whichcaused this disfigurement.The thought of carrying my misfortune through life was insupportable. I could seeno pleasure in my existence. I did not wish to live, and yet feared to die, for I wasunprepared. Friends who visited us looked with pity upon me, and advised my parentsto prosecute the father of the girl who had, as they said, ruined me. But my mother wasfor peace; she10