AN OLD STORY.
BLUE-EYED, rosy-cheeked, dark-haired boy. His work lay all day among the hills and valleys where his father's sheep wandered. His business was to watch them; to see that no wolf came and stole away one of the young lambs; to see that none of the flock strayed away; to bring them all safely home at night.
On this day the boy would have liked to be at home: There was company in his father's house, a white-haired old minister; and David the shepherd-boy would have liked well to hear him talk.
However, he did not expect to have a chance; he was the youngest of the family, and of course it was foolish to expect that the old minister would care to see him, or that his father would allow him to leave the sheep.
Meantime his brothers were very busy and eager, getting ready to see the grand old minister.
He had asked to see every one of them. The truth was, he had come to their father's house on a very important errand. He was to choose from the sons one to fill a high office. I suppose the old father and the brothers did not know what to think, when they heard they were all Called for.
"What do you think he wants of us?" they said to one another while they made ready.
David's oldest brother was a tall, handsome roan, and I think it very likely be expected to please the old minister. "He cannot help seeing that I am much finer looking than, any of the rest," I suppose he told himself; and then he went to thinking that if there should be any vacant office, and the minister had been sent to select one to fill it, he stood a better chance of being chosen than any of the others. To tell you the truth, the old minister thought that very thing, wise as he was, the moment he looked at the tall, handsome man.
"Ah!" he said to himself, "I think this must be the very one."
But he was something better than a wise man, he was truly good, so good that he listened always for the voice of God in his heart, and at that moment God spoke to him.
"No," he said, "look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature, because I have refused him; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
So the tall, finely-formed man passed on, and the next oldest came in and was 'introduced and stepped back, for the minister,’ following the voice in his heart, knew that he was not the one. In this way the brothers passed, one by one, and at last the minister asked,—
"Are here all your children?"
"Why," said the father, "my youngest boy isn't here; he is away on the hillside taking care of the sheep."
"Send for him," said the minister; "we will wait for him."
Then what a hurrying across the fields there was! I don't know which brother went, but perhaps it was Eliab, the tall, handsome one. I think he may have been a little bit vexed with the way things were going.
I can fancy he spoke rather crossly.
"David," he may have said, "David, hurry up, father has sent for you; the minister wants to see you; he has all the family there waiting, and will not sit down to eat until you come."
Then I think David was very much surprised, and said,—
"Why! What can he want of me, do you suppose?"
Then it may be that Eliab answered sharply,—
"How do I know? He wants you, and my father said you were to come as soon as possible, and that is enough."
So I fancy I can see them hurrying over the fields, and I think David waited only to wash his rosy cheeks, and brush his dark hair, then he went in, eager, happy boy that he was, to see the minister whom he had wanted so much to know.
Do you know that the moment the white-haired old minister saw him, the voice of God told him that here was the one chosen for the high office?
Do you know that the shepherd boy was really called from watching the flocks to be king over a great nation?
I think it more than likely that you have heard this story before, and that in fact you know a good
deal about David. But I am never tired of thinking over all the wonderful little steps that he took
to the throne.
The Pansy.