The Boy Who Went from the Sheepfold to the Throne.

BY MARGARET E. SANGSTER.

A great many years ago in the morning of the world there was a boy who began by taking care of flocks, and ended by ruling a nation.  He was the youngest of a large family and his older brothers did not respect him very much nor think much of his opinion, though they were no doubt fond of the ruddy, round-faced little fellow, and proud of his great courage and of his remarkable skill in music.  For the boy did not know what fear was, and once when he was alone in the high hill pasture taking care of the ewes and the lambs, there came prowling along a lion of the desert, with his soft padding steps, intent on carrying off a sheep for Madam Lioness and her cubs.  The boy did not run, not he; but took the lamb out of the lion’s mouth, seized the creature by the beard and slew him, and thus defended the huddling, frightened flock from that peril.  He served the next enemy a big, blundering old bear, in the same way.  When there were no wild beasts creeping up to the rim of the fire he made near his little tent, the lad would amuse himself by playing on the flute, or the jewsharp he carried; and at home, when the father and sons were gathered around in silence, he used to play upon his larger harp so sweetly that all bad thoughts fled, and everybody was glad and at peace with the world.

One day an aged man with snowy hair and a look of great dignity and presence came to the boy’s father’s house.  He proved to be a great prophet named Samuel, and he was received with much honor.  In the course of his visit he asked to see the entire family, and one by one the tall and beautiful sons were presented to him until he had seen seven young men.

“Is this all your household?  Have you not another son?” he inquired.

“Yes,” said Jesse the Bethlehemite, who by the way was a grandson of that beautiful maiden, Ruth, who came out of Moab with Naomi, “yes, I have still a son, but he is only a youth, out in the fields; you would not wish to see him.”  But this was a mistake.

“Pray, send for him,” answered the prophet.

Then David, for this was his name, came in, modest yet eager, with his pleasant face and his dark kindling eyes.  And the prophet said, “This is the Lord’s anointed,” and then in a ceremony which the simple family seem not to have quite understood, he set the boy apart by prayer and blessing, poured the fragrant oil of consecration on his head, and said in effect that in days to come he would be the King of Israel.

David went back to his fields and his sheep and for a long while nothing happened.

But there arose against Israel in due time a nation of warlike people, called “The Philistines.”  Nearly all the strong young men of the country went out to fight against these invaders, and among them went the sons of old Jesse.  Nobody stayed at home except the old men, the women and the younger boys and little ones.  The whole country was turned into a moving camp, and there arrived a time before long when Israel and the Philistines each on a rolling hill, with a valley between them, set their battle in array.