EARLY PIETY.

I am sure you have heard about this little boy; his:
name is Samuel. See, how anxiously he looks up in the:
face of the aged man; he must be telling something that.
greatly surprises him, for the man is lifting his hand, as.
though he hardly knew what to do. The little boy is.
pointing up to heaven, saying, by this, that what he is.
telling him has come from God. This was true, for God
had told him to carry a very sad message to this man,.
Eli. But let me tell you about little Samuel. He began
to serve the Lord when he was very young. His mother:
had asked the Lord to give her a baby boy, and she™
promised that she would give him back to God again.
Her prayer was heard, and in due time little Samuel was.
born. She kept her promise, for when the little boy was.
weaned, she took him up to the house of the Lord, and
gave him into the care of this aged man, who was God’s.
high priest. This is what she said when she brought
- him to Eli: “For this child I prayed ; and the Lord hath
given me my petition which I asked of him: therefore:
also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he
shall be lent to the Lord.” Don’t you think it must have: