I thank you for your letterEditorial Note: This letter is not extant., & for the kindness expressed in it – I was particularly glad to get it as I felt that you were somewhatAs Written:some-what unjust to me when hereEditorial Note: Chicago, Illinois & left withoutAs Written:with-out that kindly feeling that I was most anxious to have you feel toward me. I would have been so very glad of just a short time alone with you, for I was most earnest in the desire to grasp - understand & justly endorse your instruction – In the classEditorial Note: E. S. Coursen was in a class taught by Mary Baker Eddy in May 1884, in Chicago, Illinois. we were apparently so antagonistic to each other that you would not argue a point with me – you asserted & I could not always accept your assertions, consequently I seemed combative when I was only very anxious – It seems to me now that I never can get settled to the work again – I do not feel honest in what I am doing – I am attempting something As Written: some thing that I do not accept.

I am laboring hard to get at your thought feeling like arguing with you instead of my patients – Do you know that lately I never begin to teach that I do not have you right before me & I am continually bringing points to you for settlement. I do not begin to do as good work as I used to. Can you tell me why – my house is full of patients & I have so many from out of town that come to me One has just come the general Superintendent As Written: Superintendant of one of our largest RailroadsAs Written:Rail-roads - & I feel that I might do so much good & so much credit to you & to the work, if I could only believe it all and become settled. Sometimes I get utterly discouraged & feel like giving up – then I remember that ”EverythingAs Written:Every-thing comes to him who waits” & I fight on. hoping for all things to be made plain to me that are now so blind. No one could try harder, no one could labor harder to live up to the requirements in all things necessary for success than I – all of which is probably very stupid to you. but thoroughly real to me – the members of the classEditorial Note: Members of the class taught by Mary Baker Eddy in May 1884, in Chicago, Illinois. have met twice – once at Dr Avery’s, once here – next Tuesday at Mr CrockersEditorial Note: John B. Crocker – I have withdrawn from them – simply because they are tiresome to me – full of personalities & contentions – They have discarded Mr & Mrs SchwartzEditorial Note: A. J. Swarts and Kate (Katie) Swarts contending that they are “free lovers” – an assertion that to my knowledge has not been substantiated or proved – they also made very nearly the same statements with regard to another gentleman in the class – I endorse Mr C’s card – it strikes me soAs Written:meso very funny – also Mrs Schwarts advertisements still more so –

⇉ Handshift:Mary Baker EddyAns.

⇉ Handshift:E. S. CoursenAnd now dear Mrs Eddy – please take this letter as confidential, I have spoken more plainly to you of my feelings than I would to another. I hope it may not bore you – I enclose six dollarsEditorial Note: $6.00 in 1884 is the equivalent of $166.13 in 2017. for two copies of “Science & HealthEditorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.”. Think as kindly of me as you can remembering that I am not to be blamed for the “Enquiring mind” – that gave you so much trouble.