In July of l920, the young daughter of Mrs. Mildred Swanson, in Seattle Washington, begged her mother again and again to come outside and take her picture with some neighbourhood playmates.
The mother was extremely busy and did not wish to stop her work, but finally consenting, she examined the camera - an ordinary Brownie, to see that it was properly prepared. She was standing in a shadowed place facing a bank of flowers, when the camera gave a spontaneous click. Knowing the film had consequently been exposed; she rolled the next frame into place, only to have the camera snap again. Thinking the camera was probably defective, the mother took extreme care to hold the shutter in place until the last four frames on the roll could be exposed.
When the roll was later developed, the first two frames held this likeness; no explanation ever forth-coming.
I have often wondered what the particular circumstances were in her life at the time of this occurrence. Was it perhaps that she was going through a particularly difficult trial and crises in her life? Or that her faith had burned low and that she stood in need of reassurance and encouragement? Whatever it was, we can be sure that it was out of her extraordinary devotion to the Master Jesus and her close walk with the Lord that this singular event and privilege was vouchsafed to her.
E.Baerg