He anointed her head and the bare part of her neck and arms and the palms of her hands, which seemed very feverish, after which the mother asked the girl who she would like to lead in the prayer of confirmation. Again she indicated that she preferred Elder Farrell to do so.
In offering the prayer Elder Farrell afterwards declared that he had never before experienced such a feeling. The Spirit seemed to take complete possession of his mind, and while he felt a positive assurance that she was going to recover, he could scarcely recall all that he said.
The Elders soon afterwards bade the family good by and left. While walking down the street towards their lodgings Elder Morris exclaimed "Brother Farrell, you frightened me! You promised that girl that if she had faith she would walk to the water and be baptized within three months. She hasn't been out of that bed for two years, to my certain knowledge."
"I can't help it, Brother Morris. It wasn't I who did it. It was the Lord. I never was so led by the Spirit in administering to a person in my life. The Lord is able to fulfill it. You watch and see if He doesn't do it." He promised to do so, but in about one month he was released to return home. Before starting home, however, he told sister Challis that Elder Farrell would be in Northampton on a certain day, and would probably call and see the family. When he arrived at the house he found the sick girl sitting up, knitting a woolen shawl with large wooden needles. On seeing him entering the house she exclaimed enthusiastically, "Oh here is Mr. Farrell! I have never taken a particle of medicine since you left. I told the minister that you had anointed me with oil and promised me that I would get well, and I know that the Lord is going to heal me. You see that I can already talk above a whisper. Now I want you to administer to me again."
He accordingly anointed her head with oil and prayed earnestly for her complete recovery. She declared immediately afterward that she felt better already, and expressed confidence that all the promises made as to her recovery would be fulfilled, as some of them already had been. She also informed her visitor that the Church of England minister and all the members of his congregation who had been so attentive to her had ceased to take any interest in her case, and never more called to see her. She seemed gratified rather than otherwise, however, that they had evidently given her up as hopelessly lost to them.
Some time later Elder Farrell received a letter from the sick girl, announcing that her father was going to take her in a carriage on the following Sunday for a twelve mile trip in the country, to old Sister Underwood's, near Stanwick, and wanted him to call there and baptize her.
Brother Platte D. Lyman was at that time associated with Brother Farrell as a traveling Elder, and he was allowed to read the letter. He expressed a desire to accompany him, and Brother Farrell consented.
The day following the two Elders went to a town called Offord, where an old farmer had opened his barn and seated it for them to hold a meeting in. A stand had also been built for the speakers and singers to occupy, and the singers had come from Stanwick, fifteen miles away. A good sized congregation assembled in the barn, and an interesting, spirited meeting was held. While Elder Farrell was speaking he noticed a lady sitting about twenty feet in front of him, wearing a red shawl. He was impressed with the conviction that she was going to be baptized, and afterwards while the choir was singing he pointed her out to Elder Lyman, and told him she would soon be baptized. Elder Lyman inquired who she was. "I don't know her name," replied his companion, "and never saw her before, but something tells me that she is going to be baptized." Elder Lyman remarked that he would bear that prediction in mind, and see if it was ever fulfilled.
After reading the letter from the sick girl, Elder Lyman had expressed a desire to meet her, and he was accordingly invited to be present on the occasion of her baptism. When the missionaries reached Mrs. Underwood's house they found she lived next door to a hotel, around which a number of guests were seen loitering. Sister Underwood cautioned the Elders not to attempt to baptize while it was light or let the guests at the hotel know what they were going to do, lest they might raise a row. So they decided to remain in the house and wait until after ten o'clock. Just before that hour a loud rap on the door was heard, and Sister Underwood jumped up and blew the lamp out, at the same time exclaiming to those near her that their plans had been discovered, and a riot was about to be started. Elder Farrell said he would answer the door, and the rest of the folks went into another room.
On opening the door a voice outside was heard to inquire. "Is Mr. Farrell here?" The voice was recognized as that of a man named Baker whose wife Elder Farrell had baptized some time before. On being invited in, he said, "Here is a lady and a young man who learned that you were going to baptize here tonight. She told her husband that she had to be baptized—that she could not rest any more until she was baptized. He gave his consent, and went to bed to sleep while she came here."