The Story of Samuel.

LITTLE child was Samuel, brought
In God's own house to dwell;
And there, by good old Eli taught,
He learned his duty well.

He heard God's voice one night in bed,
But felt no childish fears;

And answered, as the High Priest said,
"Speak, Lord, thy servant hears."

So may we listen for God's voice,
With silent heart, at night;
Early, like Samuel, make our choice
Only to walk aright.

Poor Eli loved his Maker too,

But spoiled his sons perverse;

He let them disobey, and drew
From God a heavy curse.

Hophni and Phinehas both were slain
When Israel lost the day;

And Eli died of grief and pain
When the ark was borne away.

But Samuel faithful still remained
To Him who blessed his youth;
His purpose strong his life sustained
Before the God of Truth.

Samuel is vowed to God from his Birth. The Philistines take the Ark of God. Eli's wicked Sons die.

OW there was a certain man of Mount Ephraim named Elkanah, and his wife Hannah had no children. And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of Hosts in Shilch. And Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord there. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. And Hannah was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore, because she had no child. And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if Thou wilt remember me, and give me a son, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life. And as she continued praying before the Lord, Eli saw her, and said unto her, Go in peace, and the

God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of Him. So Hannah went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned to their house to Ramah. And Hannah bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord. And when Elkanah went up again, to offer to the Lord his yearly sacrifice, Hannah did not go with him, for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever. And Elkanah said unto his wife, Do what seemeth thee good; stay until thou have weaned him. So Hannah stayed at home and nursed her child. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with 'three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, O my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed; and

the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him. Therefore also I have lent him unto the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there. And Hannah made a song of praise to God, and went back with her husband Elkanah to her house. And the child Samuel did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest. Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord. And the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord.

And Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And God gave Hannah three more sons and two daughters for the child whom she had lent to God. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.

Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear. But

they hearkened not unto the voice of their father.

And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord and also with men. And the Lord sent a man of God to Eli, to tell him that his two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, should both of them die in one day.

Now the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see, and ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep, that the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I, for thou calledst me; and he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I, for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not