But when the Lord read his thoughts He said to the priest: "No; I have
not chosen this one."

Jesse called his third son, but Samuel only shook his head. In haste,
Jesse called all his other sons before the High Priest, but Samuel was
forced to say sadly, "The Lord hath not chosen these." Almost in
despair, he turned to Jesse, asking: "Are all thy children here?" And he
answered: "There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the
sheep."

Joyfully Samuel cried: "Send and fetch him, for we will not sit down
till he come hither." And he sent and brought him in.

When Samuel looked into his pure, innocent face, he knew that now the
chosen one of the Lord stood before him.

Taking his horn of oil, he anointed him King of Israel, "and the spirit
of the Lord came upon David from that day forward."

When Samuel left him, David went quietly back to the field, and tended
his sheep, just as of old.

Day by day he tried to do every duty well, so that bye and bye he would
be worthy to be a king.

Meanwhile, up in his royal palace, King Saul was in deep trouble. In his
distress he longed to hear the beautiful music of the harp. He therefore
sent for David, that he might play for him. When David came he paused
beside the throne, and Saul, looking up, saw before him a tall and
handsome youth, bearing a golden harp.