But what of Mr. Bridges? This wicked preacher, when reminded of his own sayings in regard to believing if shown a sign, answered that the old man had been "playing the possum" all the time, and that there had been nothing the matter with him. "Playing the possum," simply means pretending to be sick when one is well. The proverb is derived from an animal known as the "opossum." It is something larger than a common domestic cat, and when pursed by dogs or men will lie upon the ground and feign itself dead. Thus the preacher pretended to believe Mr. Knight feigned his illness to "palm off a Mormon deception," although he had been prostrated some time before he knew anything about the Latter-day Saints, or they of him. During my travel, I often stopped with a widow woman by the name of Cade. She had two sons living with her, one a widower, the other a bachelor; all where friendly and had some little faith. This lady, whom I should judge was about seventy years of age, had a wen, or growing tumor, on her throat about the size of a hen's egg. On one of my calls she requested me to administer to her for the removal of this tumor. I complied with her request, and in half an hour afterwards the lump was half gone. I left her with the swelling still going down; but my story ends badly, for after I was gone, Satan tempted her sons to believe that the virtue was in the olive oil with which she was anointed. This view weakened her faith and the healing power departed from her. Her sons went to the store and purchased a bottle of oil, similar to that which I had anointed her with, but to no effect. The circumstance was related to a physician of the neighborhood, who told the family that what had happened to her was simply the natural effect of the oil in softening the tumor; that it could only be cured by being taken out with surgical instruments; that he could remove it without difficulty and prolong her life, but it would eventually prove fatal unless removed. She consented to have the doctor try his skill on her, and she died under the operation. There were not a few, even among outsiders, who attributed her death to tempting the Lord. That their conclusion was correct, I think none of my young readers will doubt. I always felt sorry for her, as she was a kind-hearted, good woman, but was deceived by the persuasion of others. Her sons always regretted what they had done, but never joined the Church. Had her faith continued in the Lord she would doubtless have been entirely healed in a very short time and lived to glorify God for a number of years. Thus we see that His "anger is kindled against those who do not acknowledge His hand in all things." I hope no one who reads this little book will be guilty of tempting the Lord as this woman did, or fail to acknowledge His hand in all things. Even in losses, sickness or death in our families His hand should be acknowledged, and all will be sanctified for our good in the end.