BOYS OF THE BIBLE. _ 187

The age in which Samson was born was an age of vows,
and from his birth the vows of God were upon him. He
was to be a Nazarite. He was to be an abstainer from all
intoxicating drinks from his birth. In obedience’ to an angel’s
command he was never to put an enemy into his mouth
that would “steal away his brains.” This young Judge of
Israel grew strong, not by wine and strong drink, but by
water from the hallowed brooks and babbling springs of
blessed Israel. He was never to have his hair cut. So when
you think of Samson you should think of a sturdy, firm-set,
well-built boy, with “a shaggy, untonsured head,” as Dean
Stanley says, ‘and seven sweeping locks, twisted together,
yet distinct, which hung over ‘his shoulders; and in all his
wild wanderings and excesses amidst the vineyards of Sorek
and Timnath, he is never reported to have touched the juice
of one of their abundant grapes.

Young Samson was a merry fellow—quite a humorist
in his way. Sometimes his humor was both grim and cruel.
Perhaps those Scripture phrases in the Psalms about ‘“‘a giant
rejoicing to embrace,” and ‘‘a bridegroom coming forth out
of his chamber,” may have been suggested by the story of
Samson’s strange character.

“Nothing could disturb his radiant good-humor. His
most valiant, his most cruel actions were done with a smile
on his face and a jest in his mouth.” He was full of wild
pranks and heedless follies. Ile was a great practical joker,
little heeding what the result might be. Life was for many
years a comedy, but it ended in darkness and tragic
gloom.

The first great feat of strength recorded is that of the
killing of the lion. Samson and his parents were on their
-way to the vineyards of Timnath, when, turning aside from