134. BOYS OF THE BIBLE.

reason for great boasting. Too often the boy who is
blessed with great physical strength becomes a bully, and
avails himself of every possible opportunity of showing off
his superior strength in the most disagreeable manner to
weaker boys. This is very contemptible, and if the young
bully would pause a moment to think, he might remind him-
self of the fact that, strong as he is, the next mule he meets
is sure to be a great deal stronger. Very often very strong
boys have very weak spots. Sometimes this strength almost
all runs to body, and scarcely any to mind. We have
known strong, smart boys, who could knock down a Texas
steer, but they couldn’t work out a problem in Euclid to
save their lives. By all means let us take care of our
health and develop our strength; but after all, this is only
the animal part of us; and let us not make the mistake of
neglecting the culture of the heart and mind, in our too
absorbing anxiety about physical training. Develop the
muscles if you will, till they are like those of Longfellow’s
Village Blacksmith—
“As strong as iron bands,”

but do not let us forget that we have a heart and a brain
that demand our constant care.

_ Samson was the child of devout parents, who from the
day of his birth, were supremely anxious to, train him in the
fear of God. ‘How shall we order the child? What shall we
do unto him?” was their earnest anxious prayer. The very
name Samson was full of suggestive meanings. Some think
the name meant “Sunny,” or “the Sun Hero.” Others
interpret it to mean “The Destroyer.” Both meanings serve
to indicate the character of this son of Manoah. He was of
a bright and sunny disposition, and he was also a great
cestroye: