As soon as little Samuel was old enough to be without her, she took him to the holy place, that was instead of a church, and gave him to wait upon the Lord. He lived with the High Priest, whose name was Eli, and was taught by him.
Eli was a very old man, and his sons used to behave very badly; but Samuel was always good and obedient to him, and used to wait upon him, and help him when he served God in the holy place. Samuel wore a little white linen dress like the priests; and when his mother came to see him, she used to bring him a little coat. She had five more children afterwards, three sons and two daughters.
HANNAH'S PRAYER.—1 Sam. 1:11.
If you listen in the afternoon, you will hear how God spoke to Samuel whilst he was still a little boy; and I am sure you like to think of the little child in his white dress, ministering before God in His beautiful holy place. But only think. You can be like Samuel. Your father and mother lent you to God for all your life, when they took you to the font, and made you God's child; and though you live at home, you go to church, and can serve God there, if you kneel and stand and sit quietly at the proper times, mind the prayers, and repeat the Amens, and the verses you know, in their right places. And if you are obedient, and try to be good, God will love you as He loved Samuel.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was the name of the woman we hear of to-day? 2. What did she wish for? 3. What did she do to obtain her wish? 4. What did God give her? 5. What was her son's name? 6. What did she promise? 7. Where did Hannah bring her little son? 8. Who took care of Samuel? 9. Who was Eli? 10. How did Samuel behave? 11. What did Samuel wear? 12. What had Samuel to do? 13. When were you lent to God? 14. Whose child are you? 15. How can you be like Samuel when you go to church? 16. How can you be like him at home? 17. Who will bless you if you try to be good? 18. What kind of children does God love?
SECOND READING.