The Little Kitchen Maid

Long ago, most people had servants. Rich people had many servants, and the less rich had fewer servants. The butler was the most important servant. He decided what meals to serve, answered the door, and was in charge of the servants. The lowest servant was the kitchen maid. She had to make sure the fires were going when it was cold or time to cook, and she scrubbed the floors and washed the dishes. Often the kitchen maid was an orphan, and very poor.

In a beautiful home in Scotland, a little kitchen maid carried in a bundle of sticks. Carefully, she put the sticks into the oven, one at a time. The cook grumbled,” It’s about time you tended that fire, Katy. It’s almost out.”

Katy was used to the cook’s harsh remarks, and said nothing. Instead, she began brushing away the ashes which had fallen out of the oven when she stoked it. Then she wiped her hands on her threadbare brown dress. It was the only dress she owned. She hoped to buy a new one as soon as she had saved enough money. This was her first week at her first job, and she figured she might be able to afford it after two months. Katy hoped that her master, the pastor of the village, would be pleased with her work. She decided she would do her very best.

Katy was just taking off her apron after her work for the day was finished, when she heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. The door opened and the butler entered.” Katy,” he said,” Rev. McDowell wants to see you.”

Katy’s face must have turned white, for the butler took her by the hand and said kindly,” Come with me, little one. He’s not at all angry with you.”

Katy wanted to ask why he wanted to see her then, but she didn’t dare. The butler led her up the back stairway into the parlor, where she saw the entire McDowell family sitting. She wished more than ever that she was safe at home with Neil and Gramma.

“Come, Katy,” said the pastor.” I’d like you to join us for a little while.”

Katy looked bewildered. This was unheard of! Kitchen maids were never asked to enter the parlor, or sit with the family they worked for.

“Come, sit beside me,” urged the minister.

“Don’t you think she needs a bath first?” suggested Mrs. McDowell. Katy could tell that she was uncomfortable having a dirty little kitchen maid in her parlor. The children whispered and giggled together.

“I’m surprised at all of you,” admonished Rev. McDowell.” We know that ‘the Lord looketh on the heart.’ We are all in need of the same thing, children.”

A tear slid down Katy’s cheek. She would rather not be here.” I could just stand, sir; then I won’t get anything dirty,” she said shyly.

Mrs. McDowell was immediately sorry that she had made such an unkind remark, and made no protest as her husband placed Katy beside him on the couch.

“Katy,” Rev. McDowell said,” We are going to read from the Bible. Have you ever seen the Bible?”

She shook her head. In fact, Katy had never heard of a Bible before.

“We’ll read something easy enough for you to understand,” promised the minister. He chose the story of Adam and Eve, pausing at times to question Katy or explain something she did not understand.

Then he asked each of his four children several questions. At last, Rev. McDowell turned to Katy.” Perhaps this has been a bit hard for you to understand. Let me just ask you a few questions, Katy. Do you know that you have a soul?”

Katy shook her head, then blushed with embarrassment when she saw the astonished looks of the others.

“When God made you, he gave you a soul. When you die, that soul will go either to heaven or hell. Have you heard of those places before, Katy?”

Again Katy shook her head, and even the minister was surprised, but he did not show it. Instead, he said,” Tomorrow evening, come to my study and I will tell you about them.”

Rev. McDowell then prayed for each of his children, his wife, and also for Katy. Soon Katy was on her way home. Her mind was full of questions. Why did she need a new heart? That was one of the things she had learned that evening. Where was she going when she died? Why didn’t Eve just listen to God? Who was God, really?

She listened with great interest the next evening when the minister answered all her questions. Before Katy went home, Rev. McDowell said,” Katy, I want you to pray this little prayer: ‘Lord Jesus, show me myself.’ Pray it over and over. Remember, God hears you wherever you are. Would you like to come again next week? Then I will read to you from the Bible.”

“I’d like that very much, sir,” replied Katy eagerly.

Before the week was over, however, a little boy knocked on the door of the parsonage. The butler opened the door, and asked him what he wanted. The boy tugged at his ragged sleeve and stammered,” I — I — I’m Katy’s brother, and — and she’s sick, sir!”

“Oh,” said the butler.” Wait a minute, and I’ll call Rev. McDowell.”

Soon the pastor came to the door.” A young man to see me!” he smiled.” What is your name, son?”

“Neil,” he answered.” I’m Katy’s brother. She told me I should tell you she can’t work today. She wanted to try, but Gramma said she was too sick.”

“Did the doctor come to see her, Neil?” inquired Rev. McDowell.

Neil shook his head and whispered,” We don’t have any money for a doctor. But Gramma’s good at taking care of her.”

“Where do you live, Neil?”

The minister wrote down the address, and called the butler.” Call Dr. Blair and tell him I’d like him to see Katy at this address.”

Neil wanted to protest, but he knew he wasn’t allowed to speak when he wasn’t being spoken to.

“Don’t worry, Neil,” said Rev. McDowell,” the doctor won’t ask you to pay. Now I’d like you to take me with you, and we’ll visit Katy.”

As they walked, Rev. McDowell spoke to Neil about the Bible and Neil’s need of a new heart. He was pleased to discover that Katy had been telling her brother what she had learned at the pastor’s home.

Soon they came to the place where Katy and Neil lived with their grandmother. The streets were dirty and the houses run down. They climbed the creaky stairway that brought them to the attic home of the two orphans.

Neil was bursting with pride as he announced,” I brungthe preacher!”

An old woman shuffled from the single bedroom, and said quietly,” Good morning, Reverend. It’s very kind of you to come here. Katy has been talking about you for days. She’ll be glad to see you.”

The minister approached Katy’s bed. It seemed as though she was asleep.

“Katy,” said Rev. McDowell softly.

She opened her eyes.” Oh!” she said in surprise.” How did you find us?”

“Neil brought me,” he stated.” How are you feeling?”

A shadow passed over Katy’s pale face.” Not very good, sir. I’ve been praying the prayer you taught me, and it didn’t make me feel happy at all.”

“How did it make you feel, Katy?” asked Rev. McDowell kindly.

“Like Eve. I’m not a good girl. Before, I thought I was good because I always did my best for Gramma and for you. But I’m such a sinner, and I think God is very angry with me. I hardly dare to pray that prayer anymore. I’m so afraid that God will just put me right into hell!”

“Katy, listen. I’m going to teach you another prayer. Say it after me: ‘Lord Jesus, show me Thyself.’ Say it to God over and over again until you get peace. Remember, God hears prayer, Katy.”

Rev. McDowell left her then, and returned home, all the while pleading with God to answer Katy’s prayer and give her His peace.

A few days later, the minister received a letter from Katy’s grandmother.

Dear Rev. McDowell,

I’m sorry to tell you that Katy won’t be working for you any longer. The kind doctor that you sent here has found a place for us to live. It is at his friend’s house. The doctor told us that there will be other children for Neil and Katy to play with. They will have a yard to play in—something they’ve never seen. They will have to do a few chores every day to help earn their keep, and I will do what I can to earn a bit of money. Thank you for your kindness to us. Mrs. Campbell

Slowly, Rev. McDowell folded the letter. He thanked God for His goodness to Katy, and prayed again for her conversion.

The years passed, and the pastor became an old man. One bright day in September, there was a knock at the door. The butler answered the door and saw a well-dressed lady standing there.

“Could I see Rev. McDowell?” she asked.

“May I ask who is asking to see him?” inquired the butler.

The woman smiled.” Just tell him Katy is here.”

The butler turned to go and then stopped.” Katy? The kitchen maid?” Then he laughed.” Well, you sure have changed!”

Soon the old pastor came out and warmly shook her hand.” Tell me all about yourself, Katy. But first, tell me this: did you pray the second prayer I taught you?”

Tears sprang to Katy’s eyes.” Yes, sir, I did, and I can never thank God enough for allowing me to meet you. The Lord Jesus showed Himself to me and gave me peace. There have been times when I lost that peace and I would pray that prayer again.”

Rev. McDowell and Katy spent the afternoon talking about God’s wonderful ways in their lives.” As for God, His way is perfect” (Ps. 19:30a).

Dear boys and girls: Will you also pray,” Lord Jesus, show me myself, and show me Thyself” ?

—Building on the Rock, (volume 2)

The Name of Jesus

Song of Solomon 1:3

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest.

Dear Name! the Rock on which I build;
My Shield and Hiding-place;
My never-failing Treasury fill’d
With boundless stores of grace.

By Thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled;
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am own’d a child.

Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King;
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath;
And may the music of Thy Name
Refresh my soul in death.

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