当我九岁的那年，一件不幸的事故临到了我，影响了我整个的一生。有一天我和我的孪生姐姐并一个同学一同走过缅因州波特兰的市府公地。当时有一个年约十三岁的女孩追着我们，威胁着要打我们。我们的父母曾教导我们决不要与别人争斗，但如果我们有遭到侮辱或伤害的危险，就赶紧回家。于是我们拼命往家跑，但那个姑娘紧追不舍，手里拿着一块石头。我回头看她离我有多远，而当我回头的时候，她扔过来的石头就打中了我的鼻子。我失去知觉，晕倒在地。当我醒来的时候，发现自己是在一家商店里，血从我鼻子里流出来，我的衣服上都是血，地上也有了一条长长的血河。{2SG 7.1}
有一位和善的陌生人自愿用他的马车送我回家，但我当时还不知道自己是多么软弱，便告诉他说我宁愿自己走回家去，而不愿因血弄脏他的马车。当时在场的人都没有想到我所受的伤是那么的严重。我只走了几十步，就觉得头晕目眩；于是我的孪生姐姐和同学便把我抬回了家里。在遭遇这次不幸以后的一段时期，我什么事都不记得了。母亲说，那时我什么也不理会，只是昏昏迷迷地睡了三个星期。当时没有人相信我会复原的，只有母亲，她总是感觉到我会活下去。一位平时很关心我的好心邻居，一度认为我快要死了。她希望为我买一件葬礼时穿的衣服，但母亲说先不要买，因为她觉得我不会死。{2SG 7.2}
及至我神智恢复之后，仿佛觉得是从梦中醒来。我完全忘记了这件意外的事，也不晓得病的原因。朋友们经常来看我的父母，用同情的眼光看着我，劝我父母起诉那个照他们所说是毁了我的姑娘的父母。但我的母亲不愿诉讼。她说如果这样做能换回我的健康和容貌，倒是也值得，但这是不可能的，所以还是不因接受这样的建议而与人结怨为好。{2SG 8.1}
我开始稍微恢复了一点体力，听到来看我的人说：“真可怜！”“我简直认不出她了！”我就感到很奇怪。我要来了一面镜子，往里一看，不禁为我的容貌改变大吃一惊。我的脸完全不是原来的样子了。真是惨不忍睹！鼻骨折了。就这样过一辈子吗？我几乎不能忍受这种想法！我的生活没有了快乐，我不想活下去了，但我又害怕死去。对此，我毫无思想准备。 {2SG 8.2}
过了好久我才恢复了体力。医生原想将银丝植入鼻内，以保证鼻子外观的完好，但又说，这种处理基本是徒劳无益的；还说，我失血量如此之大，能否康复令人生疑；还有，即便我好转了，恐怕也命不久矣。我瘦得几乎皮包骨头。{2SG 9.1}
这时我开始祈求主在我未死以前预备我的心灵。当一些基督徒朋友到家里来拜访时，他们就问我的母亲有没有和我谈过死的问题。我无意中听到了这话便大为警觉。我渴望作一个基督徒，所以恳切祈求上帝饶恕我的罪。结果我的内心得到了平安。特别是有一段时间，我很爱每一个人，盼望人人的罪都能得到赦免，并爱耶稣。{2SG 9.2}
我记得很清楚，在一个冬夜，有雪覆地，天光明亮，天色通红，风云激荡，似要开合，而雪看起来象血一样。邻居们都很害怕。母亲把我抱出床，带我到窗户那里。我很快乐；以为耶稣要来了，我渴望见到祂。我满心喜乐，高兴得直拍手，以为我的苦难就要结束了。但我失望了。第二天早上，太阳仍旧象往常一样升起。异常的天象消失了。{2SG 9.3}
我的体力恢复得很慢。我在能够和小朋友们在一起游戏的时候，被迫学到一个痛苦的教训，那就是许多人往往以貌取人。在我遭遇不幸的那段时间，我父亲不在，他在乔治亚州。当他回来时，他对我的弟兄姐妹们讲话，然后问到了我。我被妈妈指了出来，但我自己的父亲都认不出我了。对他来说，很难相信我就是他的小爱伦。这深深刺痛了我的感情，但我尽力显得愉快，虽然我的心很疼。我因受了伤的自尊心和精神上的羞辱而寻求独处，郁闷地思想自己注定每日要忍受的考验。我异乎寻常的敏感常使我的生活很不开心。我不能想哭就哭，象我的孪生姐姐一样，来发泄自己的情绪。我心情沉重，疼得就象要裂开一样，但我不能流一滴泪。我常常觉得要是能哭个不停，就能大大解除我的悲伤了。别人总是怜悯同情我，使我心中的石头落地。那时我觉得地上的享乐似乎是多么虚空啊！我年经同伴们的友谊是多么容易改变啊！一个漂亮的面孔，一件好看的衣服，就吸引了他们；但若让不幸把这些夺走，友谊就破裂了。{2SG 10.1}
但是当我转向我的救主时，祂安慰了我。我恳切寻求主，就得了安慰。我相信耶稣确实连我都爱！两年之久，我不能用鼻子呼吸，身体很差，不能常到学校里去。我好像不可能念书，也记不住自己所学的东西。{2SG 11.1}
那使我遭到不幸的女孩子已被教员派作班长，她的责任之一就是帮助我学习写字并预备其他的功课。她似乎常为击伤我的事而表示诚心的懊悔，而我却总是避免使她想起她对我的重大伤害。她是温柔忍耐地看待我，既见我在极不利的条件下求学，就常显出忧伤和惦念之意。我的两手震颤，以致在练习写字时没有多少进步，而只能粗笨地写出几个简单的字。当我勉强看书时，只见书上的字都聚成一堆，同时我的额上迸出大点的汗珠，我便感觉头昏脑胀。我咳嗽得厉害，不能正常上学。老师觉得我上学的负担太重，除非我的健康能得到改善，便劝我休学。{2SG 11.2}
At the age of nine years an accident happened to me which was to affect my whole life. In company with my twin sister, and one of our schoolmates, I was crossing a common in the city of Portland, Maine, when a girl about thirteen years old followed us, threatening to strike us. My parents had taught me never to contend with any one, but if we were in danger of being injured, to hasten away and return home. We were doing this, running towards home, but the girl was following us with a stone in her hand. I turned to see how far she was behind me, and as I turned, the stone hit me on my nose. I fell senseless. When I revived, I found myself in a merchant’s store, the blood streaming from my nose, my garments covered with blood, and a large stream of blood on the floor.?{2SG 7.1}[1]
A kind stranger offered to take me home in his carriage. I knew not how weak I was, and told him I should greatly soil his carriage with?blood, and that I could walk home. Those present were not aware that I was so seriously injured. I had walked but a few rods when I grew dizzy and faint. My twin sister and my schoolmate carried me home. I have no recollection of anything for some time after the accident. My mother says that I noticed nothing, but lay in a stupid state for three weeks. No one thought I would live except my mother. For some reason she felt that I would not die. A kind neighbor, who had interested herself much in my behalf, at one time thought me to be dying, and wished to purchase a robe for me. Mother said to her, “Not yet;” for something told her that I would not die.?{2SG 7.2}[2]
As I aroused to consciousness, it seemed to me that I had been asleep. I was not aware of the accident, and knew not the cause of my sickness. Friends often visited my parents, and looked upon me with pity, and advised them to prosecute the parents of the child who had, as they said, ruined me. But mother was for peace. She said that if it could bring me back health and natural looks again, then there would be something gained, but as it was, she would only make herself enemies by following their advice.?{2SG 8.1}[3]
As I began to gain a little strength, my curiosity was aroused by hearing those who came to see me, say, “What a pity! I should not know her,” &c. I asked for a looking-glass,?and as I looked into it, I was shocked at the change in my appearance. Every feature of my face seemed changed. The sight was more than I could bear. The bone of my nose proved to be broken. The idea of carrying my misfortune through life was insupportable. I could see no pleasure in my life. I did not wish to live, and I dared not die, for I was not prepared.?{2SG 8.2}[4]
It was a long time before I gained much strength. Physicians thought that a silver wire could be put in my nose to hold it in shape, but said that it would be of little use; that I had lost so much blood my recovery was doubtful; that if I should get better, I could not live long. I was reduced almost to a skeleton.?{2SG 9.1}[5]
At this time I began to pray to the Lord to prepare me to die. When christian friends visited the family, they would ask my mother if she had talked with me about dying. This I overheard which aroused me. I desired to be a christian, and prayed for the forgiveness of my sins as well as I could, and felt peace of mind. Especially at one time, I loved every one, and felt an interest that all should have their sins forgiven and love Jesus.?{2SG 9.2}[6]
I well remember one night in winter when the snow was upon the ground, the heavens were lighted up, the sky looked red and angry, and seemed to open and shut. The snow looked like blood. The neighbors were much frightened. Mother took me out of bed in her arms,?and carried me to the window. I was happy. I thought Jesus was coming, and I longed to see him. My heart was full. I clapped my hands for joy, and thought my sufferings were ended. But I was disappointed. The next morning the sun arose as usual, and the singular appearance of the heavens had disappeared.?{2SG 9.3}[7]
It was some time before I became strong. As I was able to unite in play with my young friends, I was forced to learn this bitter lesson, that looks make a difference in the feelings of many. At the time of my misfortune my father was absent in Georgia. When he returned, he spoke to my brother and sisters, and inquired for me. I was pointed out by my mother; but my father did not know me. It was hard to make him believe that I was his Ellen. This cut me to the heart; yet I tried to put on an appearance of cheerfulness, when my heart ached. Many times I was made to deeply feel my misfortune. With wounded pride, mortified at myself, I have found a lonely spot to think over the trials I was doomed to bear daily. My life was often miserable, for my feelings were keenly sensitive. I could not, like my twin sister, weep out my feelings. My heart seemed so heavy, and ached as though it would break, yet I could not shed a tear. I often thought that if I could weep out my feelings, then I should find relief. Others would pity and sympathize with me, and that weight,?like a stone upon my heart, would be gone How vain and empty the pleasures of earth looked to me. How changeable the friendship of my young companions. A pretty face, dress, or good looks, are thought much of. But let misfortune take some of these away, and the friendship is broken.?{2SG 10.1}[8]
But I began to turn to my Saviour where I found comfort. I sought the Lord earnestly, and received consolation. I believed that Jesus did love even me. For two years I could not breathe through my nose. My health was so poor that I could attend school but little. It was almost impossible for me to study, and retain what I learned.?{2SG 11.1}[9]
The same girl who was the cause of my misfortune, was appointed by our teacher as a monitor to assist me in writing, and to aid me in getting my lessons. She always seemed sorry for what she had done, and I was careful not to remind her of the great injury she had done me. She was tender and patient with me, and much of her time seemed sad and thoughtful, as she saw me laboring to get an education. My hand trembled so that I made no progress in writing, and could get no further than the first examples, which are called coarse-hand. As I labored to bend my mind to my studies, the letters of my book would run together, large drops of perspiration would stand upon my brow, and I would become dizzy?and faint. I had a bad cough, which prevented me from attending school steadily. My teacher thought it would be too much for me to study, unless my health should be better, and advised me to leave school.?{2SG 11.2}[10]
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