nt out into the sheepfolds on the hillsides outside the city
to bring the lad David in. What did the boy think when he found his
father and his brothers waiting, with the old prophet in the midst?
What did it mean that the eye of the seer was set upon him, as were the
eyes of all in the house?

[Illustration: The young shepherd boy]

Samuel saw a noble youth, "ruddy, and of a beautiful countenance, and
goodly to look to." He had been told that he must not look on the
outward appearance "for the Lord seeth not as man seeth," and so he
waited a little until the Lord said:

"Arise, anoint him, for this is he." Then he took the horn of oil, and
anointed him in the midst of his brethren, and the spirit of the Lord
came upon David from that day forward, and Samuel went back to his
house in Ramah.

It may be that his father and his brothers did not understand that the
boy had been called to be king over Israel, but a new spirit of wisdom,
and love, and strength came upon David, and though he went back to his
father's flocks with no thought of being greater than his brothers, he
went with a new song in his heart which he sang to the little harp he
had made while watching the sheep. Long after when he was King of
Israel, he made in memory of these days the beautiful Psalm to be sung
in the temple beginning,

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

CHAPTER XX.

THE POWER OF A PEBBLE.

Saul the sullen was still king over Israel, although he had departed
from the Lord, and in His sight he was no longer a king. He was very
gloomy and dark in his mind, for he had driven the Lord's spirit away,
and his light was gone.

His servants tried to amuse him, and told him of David, the son of
Jesse, who was a skillful player on the harp, and a brave and handsome
youth. So Saul sent for David, and David, bringing presents from his
father, came to the king's house.

Saul was greatly pleased with David, and asked Jesse to let his son
stay with him, for when the evil spirit was upon him, if David played
upon his harp the darkness left him. But this did not last, and after
a while David went back to his flocks, and Saul forgot him.

Then the Philistines rose against Israel again. Their camp was on a
mountain side, and Saul gathered his warriors on the side of another
mountain and there was a valley between them.

Out of the Philistine camp a giant came one day, Goliath of Gath. He
talked loud and often in ord