The Little Maid and the Two Prayers.
A good Scotch minister put up at a country inn. He called the whole family together for worship. Among them was a poor little scullery maid, very ignorant and very dirty. The good minister said to her: “Don’t know; what is a soul?” The minister talked more with her, and when he went away, told her he was going to Edinboro’, and would bring her a present on his return if she would say a little prayer, which he would teach her, every morning and evening. She assented. This is the prayer:— “O Lord, show me myself.” The minister was gone a fortnight. On his return he inquired for the little maid. She was in great distress of mind. “Have you said the prayer as you agreed?” “Oh! yes, sir; yes, sir; and God has answered it; and oh, what a sight I have seen!” The poor little maid had seen herself a sinner before God; her soul could not rest. The minister gave her the present and then said:— “Now I want you to say another little prayer. This is it: ‘O Lord, show me thyself.’” The good man went his way. Years afterward, when he was old and gray-headed, a lady called to see him. “Do you remember the little scullery maid?” “Well,” said the lady, “I am that little maid. The two prayers you taught me were the means of saving my soul.” How like the woman of Samaria! First Jesus showed herself to her, and she found no rest in the vision. Then he showed himself, and she ran with joy to the city, saying, “Come, see.” O Lord, show me myself.
O Lord, show me thyself.