ds to heaven the flames leapt up and burned the flesh; and all the
time the men of the village stood round him in their rough cloaks and
striped kerchiefs, looking on in silence at this solemn act of worship.

Women in their tunics of coarse blue and red, with strings of coins in
their dark hair, stood apart at a distance, for they were not allowed
to share in the worship of the men. The feast was to come next, at
which the women would be allowed to serve the men; but before Samuel
would permit it to begin, there was something else, that must be done.

Calling Jesse to him, he said that he wished to see his sons. Jesse
knew at once that something important was about to happen; but the
people did not know, and wondered why the feast was delayed, and what
it all meant when Jesse called his sons forward by their names, and
bade them walk slowly, one at a time, past the aged prophet. First
came the eldest, in striped cloak and gray tunic, carrying his thick
war-spear in his hand; and when Samuel marked his height and his fine
face, he said,--

"Here, surely, is the chosen king."

But the voice of God within him seemed to whisper, "Nay, I have
rejected him. God sees not as man sees; for man looks upon the outward
appearance, but God looks upon the heart."

Then Samuel told Jesse that his eldest son was not chosen, and he
passed on. Jesse next called up his second son, who walked slowly past
the prophet, with sweeping cloak and club in hand, armed for the fight.

"Neither hath God chosen this," Samuel said to the father; and the
second son passed on. Jesse then called forward the third, who also
walked past the old prophet with head erect, and spear in hand, hoping
that he would be chosen.

"Neither hath God chosen this," was all that the grim old man said of
him.

The people sat in the sunshine, on the slope of the hill outside the
village walls, shading their eyes and looking on in silence, until
seven of the sons of Jesse, dressed and armed like chiefs, had gone
slowly past the old man with the keen black eyes; but Samuel made no
movement, and Jesse was deeply grieved.

"God hath not chosen these. Are all thy children here?" Samuel asked,
turning sharply to the shepherd, who trembled as he replied,--

"There remains yet David; but he is my youngest son, and is watching
the sheep."

David was too young to be thought of in this important business. He
was down in the hollow with his shepherd's staff and d