“MAMMA,” said Kitty, “papa calls me a good little girl, and aunty does, and most everybody; but I am not, mamma, good at all.”
“I am very sorry,” said mamma.
“So am I,” said Kitty, “but I have got a very naughty think,”
“Naughty what?” asked mamma.
“My think is naughty inside me,” said Kitty. “When I was dressed to go to ride yesterday, and the carriage came and there was no room for me, I went into the house and auntie told you I behaved very good about it. She said I didn’t cry, or anything; but mamma, I thought wicked things, and I ran upstairs and lay down. and kicked and kicked and kicked, I was so, so, so mad,” said Kitty, “I wished the carriage would upset and the old horses run away; that’s what I mean. It was a naughty think in me,”
“Well, nobody knew it,” said John, “Somebody did know it,” said Kitty. “Who?” asked John.
“God,” answered Kitty. “He cannot call me good, as auntie and papa do. Mamma, how can I be good inside?”
Kitty is not alone in asking that question. Many and many a one is asking it very sorrowfully. How can I be good inside? King David felt like Kitty, and fell down on his knees and prayed this prayer:—
“Cleanse Thou me from secret faults.” Ps. 19:12.
Secret faults are in some sense the worst sort of faults, because, first, they deceive others, for they are inside and nobody sees them; and then they deceive ourselves, for we are apt to think nobody will find them out, and that if they are not found out it is no matter.
ML 05/02/1937