“But then Eli knew that it was God who called the child. He told Samuel to say, when the Lord called him again, ‘Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.’
“This little Samuel did. Then the Lord told him that he was going to punish Eli’s wicked sons. Eli had wicked children, although he was a good man. He did not punish his children when they were naughty; so they grew up sinners against God, and were destroyed for their wickedness.
“Samuel lived to be a very old man. When he died the whole nation mourned for him; for he was a great prophet in Israel. We do not read of his having ever done one wrong thing during his whole life.
“Now, my children,” added Mrs. Penrose, “perhaps you may think that Samuel was very highly favored to have God talk with him. But he speaks to you also. He speaks to you in the Bible, which tells you how you may get to heaven. He speaks to you by your minister and Sunday-school teacher, every week. He speaks to you through your parents’ voices; and he speaks to your heart, by his Holy Spirit, every day of your lives.”
Little Flora had been listening to the story as attentively as Rupert and Alfred, although her bright blue eyes began to look sleepy. She said,
“Mamma, is there more about Samuel in the Bible?”
“Yes, my dear, there is much more than I have told you,” said her mamma.
“Then I will make haste and learn to read,” said she, “that I may know all that Samuel did when he was a big man.”
Her mamma was glad that her little stories made Flora wish to read the Bible for herself.
