I address you to ascertain how much a poor woman of 64 years could be favored; were I (on my return to Vermont) decide to go on to Boston and learn the Science of MetaphysicsEditorial Note: Christian Science. I am very anxious to learn to heal the sick if one of my age can learn & be successful; even if but a few years – if my earthly sojourn was prolonged that time, I should feel I had not lived in vain. I have a little property in Vt. which I must dispose of in a few months and have hired money on the strength of that to educate my Son and assist him in getting established in business which he is now struggling to do, by waiting to gain customers in dental profession – he went in with Dr. Sawyer last fall (who has been with his wife to you to get a better knowledge of the ScienceEditorial Note: Christian Science) and as my son has not yet built up a practice that will bear his necessary expenses and suffers much from catarrh and biliousness – I feel it important to fit myself if possible (even at my age) to be able to earn a living – but could I succeed in anything to care for myself independent of the assistance of friends, (which I should not be satisfied to do otherwise) it would give me great pleasure – yet if I know myself, the idea of earning money would be but a small portion of happiness gained in comparison to relieving the sick and suffering without their taking medicine which I have lost confidence in – please let me know what reduction you could make if any; or if you would give me the chance to pay you as I could earn it, after learning the ScienceEditorial Note: Christian Science, in case I could heal the sick also should you think best and decide to favor me – as your statements are that you do favor the poor (& I am honest in my account of poverty) – what time reduction would you rather give me instructions. I would rather wait until March or April and perhaps May unless my niece in Vermont should want me to return this winter and go with her to Boston for treatment – she has for the fourth time had a cancer or tumor removed from her breast; the first by plaster – the last one by the knife – Mrs Choate who has been treating me and my son advised me in two of her last letters to come to the College. I have been, and now am anxious to go – but for the want of means have hesitated, hoping Mrs Choate would come west and I could learn of her – but as she gives me no hopes of her coming this winter; I turn to you for advise which I trust from reading your books, and what I hear of you, you will be unselfish, true, and frank in giving your opinion to one of my age. You can readily see I am not an educated person -- notwithstanding I have had a great desire for knowledge, but surrounding circumstances seemed always to fetter me in such directions, consequently I am what I am – but have not given up all ambition even if I am pretty far down in the decline of earth life – some of my friends think my age is against my undertaking to learn the science of healingEditorial Note: Christian Science – they think it would be too much of a draft on my physical organization, but I am not yet willing to give up to being a drone; and it seems to me I can do this work as well as any, as far as the exhaustion of strength is concerned – and I am sure could I be successful I should be much happier by thinking I was doing more for friends as well as for myself than in any other way – don’t hesitate to tell me plainly what you think of me, as I shall take it kindly whatever your decision may be.