Mary was a young servant maid who knew and loved the Lord Jesus. One day she was in her room putting on her hat and jacket to go out on a message, but her looking glass did not reflect a happy figure; she was annoyed at having been taken from her work and could not repress her feelings.
"Mary! Mary!" cried her mistress, "are you not ready yet?" Mary obeyed the call and at once started out.
It was a charming morning; Mary soon quieted her impatience, and she had not gone far before she judged herself for her failure and soon regained her usual good humor.
"It was very wrong," thought she, "to murmur because I had to leave my work to go and inquire about poor Miss S— ." Here a shade of sadness crossed her face.
"They say she is dying," she continued "but if she loves Jesus, she has no fear, I am sure of that.”
Mary knew a little of the love of Jesus towards herself, but she had not yet learned to give up everything for Him, to be subject in everything and to overcome her impatience in her little trials and disappointments.
Near one of the windows of the house where Mary was going, and which she was now approaching, sat a lady looking out at her, with a heart full of sorrow and bitterness.
"Why," sighed she, "should my child have to endure all these sufferings, while this young maid is so happy?" and rising she came forward to meet Mary as she entered the house, and said to her:
"I suppose you have come from Mrs. E—for news about my daughter. Perhaps your bright and happy face may cheer her a little—come and see her and deliver your message to herself.”
Mary, who had often been at the house to inquire after the invalid, followed the lady, surprised at such consideration for herself, a little waiting maid.
When they came to the bedroom the lady left Mary, saying she would shortly return. Mary then turned to look at the pale and wasted face of the dying girl. Never before had she seen such a sight.
"Is she asleep?" said Mary. No, for opening her eyes the sick one said, partly to herself and partly to the young maid:
"I am so tired! so tired!”
In a moment all Mary's timidity vanished. Her heart was filled with pity for the poor sufferer, and approaching the bed, her eyes fixed on the thin and wearied face, she said softly and tenderly: "Do you not know that Jesus came to give rest, peace, and full assurance of salvation. He Himself says: "'Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'" Matt. 11:28.
And growing yet bolder, she took a Bible which she found near her, and opening to the eleventh of Matthew, she read again slowly, the precious words of the Savior.
"Mark the place for me," said the sick one, "and tell me more about Jesus.”
In the few moments at her disposal, Mary told the young girl all that she had realized in her own heart of Jesus and His love, and as she thus simply confessed how precious her Savior was to her, the sick girl exclaimed "I understand; I see it now. O! how good He is. Jesus died for me.”
She had not time to say more. The lady returned, and Mary went back to resume her duties, wondering at all that had taken place.
Thus in this simple and true story is shown how the grace of God meets souls in their need, and where there is faith in the Word, and work of the Lord Jesus, the passing from moral death, to eternal Life is so gentle, but we see the blessed results, and give glory to God.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9.