he thought it was Eli, and ran to his bedside, saying
that he _did_ call him. Eli now saw that God was calling the boy, and
told him to go and lie down, and if he heard the voice again, to
answer, "Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth." Then the boy Samuel,
in wonder and fear, returned to his sleeping-mat before the great
purple curtain, and lay down with the light shining upon him. Once
more he heard the voice calling,--

"Samuel, Samuel."

"Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth," he replied in a trembling
voice. Then Samuel heard a voice, which told him that God meant to
punish Eli for not checking his sons, who were very wicked men, and had
done many things which were wrong in His sight; also that He had chosen
him to be the leader and judge of the people of Israel after Eli.

The boy slept again, the temple lamp burned low before the great
curtain, and the place was silent until the gray light of morning stole
in. Then Samuel rose, and as he unbarred the wooden doors of the
tabernacle and opened them wide, the dawn was breaking over the hills
in clouds of crimson and gold, filling the holy place with the light of
a new day.

The breath of morning was in his face as he looked out to the east and
the rising sun; and he felt a changed boy, for he had received a
message from God Himself--a call to lead the people of Israel; yet he
feared to tell Eli of his vision, so great and so terrible. But after
a while the old priest awoke, and calling him to his bedside put
questions to him; and when he heard that he had had a vision, he bade
the boy tell him all, both good and bad, and Samuel did so.

[Illustration: The child Samuel.]

The story grieved the old man, but even yet he did not check his sons,
who were now too strong for him; and for some years more they went on
in their wicked ways, and he still remained the chief priest. But as
he grew older and weaker Samuel grew stronger; and when he became a
man, he became known through all the land for his wisdom, and the
people said that Samuel was a friend of God, who had guidance from the
Most High for His people. So he continued to live at Shiloh as Eli's
chief helper until the old man passed away; and so the little boy of
the tabernacle became in due time the chief prophet, the ruler, and the
judge of Israel.

DAVID THE SHEPHERD YOUTH.

I.

Now it happened in the days of Samuel that the tribes of Israel made up
their mind to choose a king to rule o