GOD’S CALL TO THE LITTLE PROPHET.
When little Samuel woke,
And heard his Maker’s voice.
At every word he spoke
How much did he rejoice!
O blessed, happy child, to find
The God of heaven so near and kind!
SUNDAY-SCHOOL HYMNS.
“HANNAH used to go up to the tabernacle, once a year, to see her dear
boy. She always took him a little coat. O, how much pleasure she must
have taken in making that little coat! It was of linen, and made very
much like the tunic aprons which children wear now, only that it was
long.
“Samuel must have enjoyed his dear mother’s yearly visit very much. I
think he often went to the door of the tabernacle, and looked out, on
the day that he expected her. When he saw her coming, perhaps he asked
Eli to let him run and meet her; unless he was too busy assisting at the
altar, for it was the day of the yearly sacrifice.
“Samuel lived happily in the tabernacle. God loved him, and those whom
he loves are happy.
“One night, as Samuel slept upon his little bed, a voice called
‘Samuel!’
“The little boy thought that Eli called him, and he ran to the prophet,
saying,
“‘Here am I.’
“Eli told Samuel that _he_ had not called him; and bade him go and lie
down again. He had just done so, when again the voice called ‘Samuel!’
“The little boy again jumped from his bed, and ran to Eli, saying,
“‘Here am I; for thou didst call me.’
“Eli said,
“‘I called not, my son. Lie down again.’
“Then the third time did God call to Samuel, and three times did he go
to Eli, thinking it was he who called him.
“But then Eli knew that it was God who called the child. He told Samuel
to say, when the Lord called him again, ‘Speak, Lord, for thy servant
heareth.’
“This little Samuel did. Then the Lord told him that he was going to
punish Eli’s wicked sons. Eli had wicked children, although he was a
good man. He did not punish his children when they were naughty; so they
grew up sinners against God, and were destroyed for their wickedness.
“Samuel lived to be a very old man. When he died the whole nation
mourned for him; for he was a great prophet in Israel. We do not read of
his having ever done one wrong thing during his whole life.
“Now, my children,” added Mrs. Penrose, “perhaps you may think that
Samuel was very highly favored to have God talk with him. But he speaks
to you also. He speaks to you in the Bible, which tells you how you may
get to heaven. He speaks to you by your minister and Sunday-school
teacher, every week. He speaks to you through your parents’ voices; and
he speaks to your heart, by his Holy Spirit, every day of your lives.”
Little Flora had been listening to the story as attentively as Rupert
and Alfred, although her bright blue eyes began to look sleepy. She
said,
“Mamma, is there more about Samuel in the Bible?”
“Yes, my dear, there is much more than I have told you,” said her mamma.
“Then I will make haste and learn to read,” said she, “that I may know
all that Samuel did when he was a big man.”
Her mamma was glad that her little stories made Flora wish to read the
Bible for herself.
[Illustration]
------------------------------------------------------------------------