Part 83 (2/2)

Ark of G.o.d A box of wood which was kept in the temple, and which the Jews thought was very precious and sacred.

There was once a woman who lived in the Bible land, and her name was Hannah. She had a little boy named Samuel. When Samuel was a baby, his mother made up her mind that she would give him to G.o.d, to serve in the temple. So she took him to the temple, and as soon as he was old enough he helped the good priest Eli about his work. Every year Hannah made a little coat for her boy, and gave it to him, when she came to see him at the temple. It was very hard for Hannah to have her dear little boy away from home, but she was very happy when she came to see him every year, and heard what a good boy he was. The old priest Eli was very fond of him. His own sons were very bad men, and that made him love Samuel all the more. Here is a story about Samuel and Eli, which shows what a good and obedient boy he was. Samuel grew up to be a very wise and a very great man, and served his country and G.o.d faithfully all his life.

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

A DRUSE FAMILY

From a photograph taken by Mrs. Louise Seymour Houghton, and used by her kind permission.

The Druses are a remarkable people living on the mountains of Lebanon in the northern part of Palestine. For a thousand years they have been a separate people, preserving many of the customs and manners of living of Bible times. This makes them a very interesting people to us. Most of them are well to do, but there is occasionally a poor family like the one shown in our picture. You will notice the cow shed at the front door, and the family dog, but can you see the donkey? What looks like a great brush heap in the middle of the picture is really a little donkey loaded with brus.h.!.+ If you look sharply you may see his little feet. At the left of the picture, on the hilltop, are the ruins of an old castle built by the Crusaders.

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And it came to pa.s.s 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 G.o.d went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of G.o.d 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 yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time.

And he arose and went to Eli, and said, ”Here am I; for thou didst call me.” And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel:--

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”Go, lie down: and it shall be if he call thee, that thou shalt say, 'Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.'”

So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, ”Samuel, Samuel.”

Then Samuel answered, ”Speak, for thy servant heareth.”

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