28 BOYS OF THE BIBLE.

was then more than twenty years of age. He was one of the
best scholars in the university. He knew a great deal about
philosophy, logic and languages, but this was the first time
he had ever had a Bible in his hands. He happened to open
the first volume at the place where Hannah was dedicating
her son Samuel to the Lord. The young student was enchanted
by the simple romance of the story. He read till the sun
declined and the shadows deepened in the grand. old library;
he put the book back in its place, and then, returning to his
study, he clasped his hands and expressed a desire that almost
took the form of a prayer, saying: ‘“‘Oh, that God would give
me such a book for myself.” What he would have gladly
given for a copy of these Scriptures it is hard to tell.

One thing we know, he became from that time a diligent
student of the Scriptures. The Bible was his daily companion.
It changed the whole course of his life. It made of him one
of the grandest men the world has ever seen. It helped him
to be great, and to do such grand work for the world as will
never, never be forgotten.

The Bible is the best of all books for boys, because it will
help them, not only by precepts and commandments, but by the
most wonderful array of examples to be found anywhere in
the world.

Some wise people say that one well-illustrated book will
help a boy to understand what he is reading about better than
a dozen good books that are not illustrated. All of which is
very true. Boys love pictures, and so do men and women for
the matter of that. The Bible is full from first to last of the
most wonderful and beautiful of word pictures to be found
anywhere; so beautiful that the greatest artists of all the ages
have found no subject so worthy of their canvas as the living
pictures of the Bible. If you travel through Europe you will