Produced by Mary Wampler, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. THE PASTOR'S SON BY WILLIAM W. WALTER DEDICATED TO F. S. B. IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF WORK WELL DONE PREFACE My sole reason for writing this book and placing it before the public is to call the public's attention to _another book_, wherein is contained the Christ truth, the understanding of which will free you from all your troubles. If in sin, it shows the way out; if sick, it will heal you; if grief-stricken, it will mend your broken heart; if in poverty, it will give you plenty. I speak from experience, having been sick for more than seven years, at the edge of the grave, reduced to poverty, and all earthly hope gone. I was rescued from this inferno on earth, my health restored, my supply sufficient, my joy complete; surely I can say, my cup of happiness runneth over. Truly that book sayeth--"Come all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest." CONTENTS CHAPTER I THANKSGIVING MORNING II THE TURKEY DINNER III WHAT WALTER FOUND IV PREPARING FOR THE LESSONS V THE FIRST LESSON VI CONFUSION VII THE SECOND LESSON VIII THE THIRD LESSON IX THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE JOURNAL X HUMANITY'S MISTAKE XI FALSE INVESTIGATION XII A FAIR INVESTIGATION XIII THE UNREALITY OF EVIL XIV THE DREAM XV TRUTH BEING MANIFESTED XVI THE FAREWELL SERMON A PARTING WORD CHAPTER I THANKSGIVING MORNING "What a beautiful Thanksgiving morning this is," said the Rev. James A. Williams to his son Walter, as he looked out of the dining-room window. "There isn't a cloud in the sky, and this soft, balmy breeze from the south makes one almost believe that it is a June morning instead of the 30th of November. I know there will be a large attendance at church this morning, which will please me very much, as I have prepared an excellent sermon, and feel certain that the congregation will enjoy it." He glanced at his son as he finished speaking, and some of the joy and cheerfulness that had shown in his eyes faded away, for he saw no return of his joy and happiness on his child's face; all that was written there was sorrow, pain, and feebleness. His son, who was nearly seventeen, had always been sickly and feeble since birth; the best physicians had been employed, change of climate had been tried, and everything else that promised relief, but of no avail. The best specialists had been consulted, but they gave little hope that hereditary consumption could be cured, for the minister's wife had been similarly afflicted for many years.