The Regular Exercise Program

The Roots, who so graciously took the Whites into their home, cared for them as tenderly “as Christian parents can care for invalid children” (Ibid.). Ellen insisted on keeping up James's exercise program. They took a long walk twice a day. Then came a snowstorm that left a heavy blanket on the ground, bringing a minor crisis. She later told of it:2BIO 161.3

I went to Brother Root and said, “Brother Root, have you a spare pair of boots?”2BIO 161.4

“Yes,” he answered.2BIO 161.5

“I should be glad to borrow them this morning,” I said. Putting on the boots and starting out, I tracked a quarter of a mile in the deep snow. On my return, I asked my husband to take a walk.2BIO 161.6

He said he could not go out in such weather.2BIO 161.7

“Oh, yes, you can,” I replied. “Surely you can step in my tracks.”2BIO 161.8

He was a man who had great respect for women; and when he saw my tracks, he thought that if a woman could walk in that snow, he could. That morning he took his usual walk.—Manuscript 50, 1902 (see also Selected Messages 2:307).2BIO 161.9