Catharine Smith

 Catharine Smith was a native of Pabay, a small island in Loch Roag, where dwell seven families. From their insular situation and poverty, it has not been in the power of the parents to educate their children ; but little Kitty is an example of the truth that all God's children are taught of him, for when only two years old she was observed to lay aside her playthings, and clasp her little hands with reverence during family worship ; and at the age of three she was in the habit of repeating the 23d Psalm, with such relish and fervour as showed that she looked to the good shepherd in the character of a lamb of his flock. Her parents taught her also tbe I>ord's Prayer, which she repeated duly, not only at her stated times, hut often in the silence of night. She frequently pressed the duty of prayer, not only on the other children, but on her parents, and she told her father that, in their absence, v/hen she would ask a blessing- on the food left for the children, her brothers and sisters would mock at and beat her for doing- so. At another time, when she was probably about six years old, she was out with her companions herding- cattle, when she spoke to them of the comehness of Christ. They, probably to tempt her, said he was black. She left them, and returned home much cast down, and said, " The children vexed me very-much to-day. I will not g-o with them, for they said that Christ was black, and that grieved my spirit." Her parents asked her what she rephed to that. " I told them," she said, " that Christ is white and glorious in his apparel." It is probable that Kitty was sufficiently enlightened to discern the moral comeliness of the gracious Redeemer, while her thoughtless conmrades did not extend their ideas beyond personal beauty. They would have said any thing that might produce the effect of provoking their playfellow, whose more intelligent spirit grieved for them that they " saw no beauty in him" whom her soul loved, " that they should desire him." Perhaps no Christian character is truly confirmed in faith and patience, without some trial of persecution, which both shows to the heart its own corruption, by the irritating effects of gainsaying, and affords an opportunity of proving that we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. This dear child had her trial adapted to her age and sphere, and came forth on the Lord's side holding fast the word of life, in as firm a way as a much more experienced Christian might have done. The Rev. J. Macdonald of Farintosh having preached in the parish of Uig, Kitty's parents were among the many who went to hear him. On their return they mentioned what he had said about the formality of much that is called prayer, and the ignorance of many as to its spirituality ; they stated, according to their recollection of the sermon, that many had old useless prayers, and greatly needed to learn to pray with the Spirit. The child observed this, and two days after, said to her mother, " it is time for me to give over my old form of prayer." Her mother replied, " neither you nor your prayers are old ;" but she rejoined, " I must give them over, and use the prayers which the Lord will teach me." After this she withdrew to retired spots for prayer. At one time her younger sister returned Avithout her, and on being asked where she had left Kitty, she said, " I left her praying." Her father says that he has often sat up in bed listening to her sweet young voice, presenting this petition with heartfelt earnestness, " Oh, redeem me from spiritual and eternal death." From the remoteness of her dwelling, Kitty had never attended any place of public worship,—but the Sabbath was her delight,—and often would she call in her brothers and sisters from the play in which they were thoughtlessly engaged, asking them to join in prayer and other devout exercises, and warning them, that if they profaned the day, and disliked God's worship, they must perish. Her mother observing the intent gaze with which she looked on a large fire, enquired what she saw in that fire? She replied, " I am seeing that my state would be awful if I were to fall into that fire, even though I should be immediately taken out; but wo is me, those who are cast into hell fire will never come out thence." Another day, when walking by the side of a precipice, and looking down, she exclaimed to her mother, " how fearful would our state be if we were to fall down this rock, even though we should be lifted up again; but they who are cast into the depths of hell will never be raised therefrom." * One day her mother found her lying on a bench with a sad countenance, and addressed some jocular words to her with a view to cheer her. But the child's heart was occupied with solemn thoughts of eternity; and instead of smiling, she answered gravely, " O, mother, you are vexing my spirit, I would rather hear you praying." In * The reader is requested to observe that the child's words are translated from the Gaelic, and thus have lost their infantine expression. truth, eternity was very near her, and the Spirit of God was preparing her for entering- it. As she got up one morning, she said, " O, are we not wicked creatures who have put Christ to death." Her mother, curious to hear what one so young could say on such a sul)ject, replied, " Christ was put to death, Kitty, long het'ore we were born." The child, speaking with an understanding heart, said, " mother, I am younger than you, but my sins were crucifying him." After a pause, she added, " what a wonder that Christ could be put to death when he himself was God, and had power to kill every one ; indeed, they only put him to death as man, for it is impossible to kill God." She used often to repeat passages from Peter Grant's spiritual songs, such as, " It is the blood of the Lamb that precious is." When she came to the conclusion of the verse, " It is not valued according to its worth," she would, in touching terms, lament the sad truth, that His blood is so lightly thought of. Being present when some pious persons spoke of those in vii. Rev. who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, she said, " is it not wonderful that, while other blood stains what is dipped in it, this cleanses and makes white." Murdoch Macleod being engaged in the valuable duties of a Scottish elder in the little island of Pabay, Kitty wished much to hear him, but from bashfulness was ashamed to enter the house where he was employed in worship; she therefore climbed up to the window and sat there till all was over. Being asked what she had heard, she said she was amazed to hear that Christ offered himself as a Saviour to many in our land who rejected him, and that he was now going to other and more remote quarters to win souls. She then added with the pathos of a full heart, " O, who knows but he may return here again." Soon after she had completed her seventh year she was attacked by that sickness which opened her way to the kingdom of Heaven. When her father asked who she pitied most of those she would leave behind, she replied that she pitied every one whom she left in a Christless state. She suffered much from thirst during- her illness, and her mother, reluctant to give her so much cold water as she longed for, fell upon the evil expedient of telling her that the well was dried up. The following- day, when she saw water brought in for household purposes, poor Kitty's heart was grieved, and she said, " O, mother dear, was it not you who told the great lie yesterday, when you said the well was dry—O, never do so again, for it ang-ers God." During- her illness, she was enabled almost literally to obey the command, '' pray without ceasing-,'* and was often interceding- with the Lord to look down and visit her native place. On the morning of her last day on earth, her father said, " there is reason for thankfulness that we see another day." Kitty opened her eyes, and said, " O, Holy One of Israel save me from death," a petition often used when in perfect health, and evidently referring- to spiritual and eternal death. Throughout the day she was generally silent, which her father remarked, saying-, " I do not hear you praying as usual;" to which she replied, "dear father, I pray without ceasing-, though not because you desire me to do so." In her last moments she was heard to say, " O, redeem me from death." Her father, leaning over her, said, " Kitty, where are you now ? " To which the reply was, " I am on the shore;" and immediately her soul was launched into the great ocean of eternity. In December, 1829, this lowly child was carried from her poor native island to the blessed region where the redeemed of the Lord find their home, and her name has left a sweet perfume behind it.