KATIE was a young servant, and she was a Christian. On the day of which I write she stood in her little bedroom putting on her hat to run an errand for her mistress. But Katie’s face, reflected in the mirror, was not at all a happy one.
“Katie, Katie”, called her mistress, “are you ready?” Katie obeyed the summons and was soon on her way. It was a lovely morning, and Katie had not walked very far before her usual good temper returned.
“How wrong of me,” she said to herself, “to grumble because I have to leave my work to go and inquire after poor Miss S. I do hope she will be better this morning, for they say she is dying; but if she loves Jesus, she won’t be afraid, I know.”
Katie had found out a little of the love the Lord Jesus had for her, but she had not learned to leave everything with Him, and thus to overcome the impatience that arose in her heart because of her little trials and troubles.
As she was nearing the house, where she was to call, a lady was seated at one of its windows, watching her with a heart full of bitterness.
“Why,” sighs she, “should my daughter have such suffering, and this servant girl look so happy?” Then rising from her chair, she met Katie, saying,
“You come from Mrs. E. I believe, to inquire after my child. Perhaps a fresh, bright face might arouse her. I should like you to go in and take your message yourself.”
Katie, who had frequently come to the house to make inquires, followed the lady upstairs, full of wonder why she, a little servant-maid, should have such an honor paid her.
When they reached the bedroom, the lady left Katie standing just inside the room, saying she would return shortly.
Katie fixed her eyes on the pale, wasted face of the dying girl. She had not before seen such a sight. Was she asleep? she wondered. No, for opening her eyes, the invalid said, half to herself, half to Katie,
“I’m so weary; O, so weary!”
In a moment all Katie’s timidity fled: her heart was filled with pity for the sufferer, and going over to the bedside, she bent down to that weary looking face, and said, softly and tenderly,
“Do you not know that Jesus will give you rest? He offers it to you now, He says Himself,
‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor, and are weary laden, and I will give you rest.” Then becoming very bold, she took up a Bible nearby, and turning to Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28), read its precious words over again.
“Mark it for me,” said the sick girl, “and tell me more about Him.”
In the few precious moments thus given, Katie told the dying girl all she knew in her heart of Jesus and His love, and as she simply declared what a Saviour Jesus was to herself, the invalid exclaimed,
“I see it; how good of Him!”
The dear sick girl, lived only a few days after this, but was truly saved, and passed away very happily, longing to be with her Lord and Saviour.
As you read this true, but simple account, think, dear young Christian, to what high service the blessed Master may call you, and how cheerfully you should enter by any door He may open for you, where you may, in your own simple way, speak lovingly for Him.
ML 09/25/1927