stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第30章
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his sword upon his armor； and tried to walk； he said to Saul； 〃I cannot go
with these； for I am not used to them。〃 And he put them off。
Then he took his staff in his hand and went and chose five smooth
stones out of the brook； and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had；
and his sling was in his hand； and he went out and drew near to the
Philistine。
And the Philistine came on and drew near to David； and the man that
bore his shield went before him。 And when the Philistine looked about and
saw David； he disdained him； for David was but a boy； and ruddy； and of a
fair countenance。 And he said to David； 〃Am I a dog； that thou comest to
me with a cudgel？〃 And with curses he cried out again； 〃Come to me； and
I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air； and to the beasts of the
field。〃
But David looked at him； and answered； 〃Thou comest to me with a
sword； and with a spear； and with a shield； but I come to thee in the name
of the Lord of hosts； the God of the armies of Israel； whom thou hast
defied。 This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand； and I will smite
thee； and take thy head from thee； and I will give the carcasses of the host
of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air； and to the wild beasts
of the earth； that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel！ And
all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear；
for the battle is the Lord's； and he will give you into our hands。〃
And then； when the Philistine arose； and came； and drew nigh to meet
David； David hasted； and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine。 And
when he was a little way from him； he put his hand in his bag； and took
thence a stone； and put it in his sling； and slung it； and smote the Philistine
in the forehead； so that the stone sank into his forehead； and he fell on his
face to the earth。
And David ran； and stood upon the Philistine； and took his sword； and
drew it out of its sheath； and slew him with it。
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Then； when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead； they fled。
But the army of Israel pursued them； and victory was with the men of
Israel。
And after the battle； David was taken to the king's tent； and made a
captain over many men； and he went no more to his father's house； to herd
the sheep； but became a man； in the king's service。
THE SHEPHERD'S SONG
David had many fierce battles to fight for King Saul against the
enemies of Israel； and he won them all。 Then； later； he had to fight against
the king's own soldiers； to save himself； for King Saul grew wickedly
jealous of David's fame as a soldier； and tried to kill him。 Twice； when
David had a chance to kill the king； he let him go safe； but even then； Saul
kept on trying to take his life； and David was kept away from his home
and land as if he were an enemy。 But when King Saul died； the people
chose David for their king； because there was no one so brave； so wise； or
so faithful to God。 King David lived a long time； and made his people
famous for victory and happiness； he had many troubles and many wars；
but he always trusted that God would help him； and he never deserted his
own people in any hard place。
After a battle； or when it was a holiday； or when he was very thankful
for something； King David used to make songs； and sing them before the
people。 Some of these songs were so beautiful that they have never been
forgotten。 After all these hundreds and hundreds of years； we sing them
still； we call them Psalms。
Often； after David had made a song； his chief musician would sing
with him； as the people gathered to worship God。 Sometimes the singers
were divided into two great choruses； and went to the service in two
processions； then one chorus would sing a verse of David's song； and the
other procession would answer with the next； and then both would sing
together； it was very beautiful to hear。 Even now； we sometimes do that
with the songs of David in our churches。
One of the Psalms that everybody loves is a song that David made
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when he remembered the days before he came to Saul's camp。 He
remembered the days and nights he used to spend in the fields with the
sheep； when he was just a shepherd boy； and he thought to himself that
God had taken care of him just as carefully as he used to care for the little
lambs。 It is a beautiful song； I wish we knew the music that David made
for it； but we only know his words。 I will tell it to you now； and then you
may learn it； to say for yourselves。
The Lord is my shepherd； I shall not want。
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures； he leadeth me beside the
still waters。
He restoreth my soul； he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for
his name's sake。
Yea； though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death； I will
fear no evil； for thou art with me； thy rod and thy staff they comfort me。
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies：
thou anointest my head with oil； my cup runneth over。
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life； and
I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever。
THE HIDDEN SERVANTS＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted； with quotations； from the poem in The Hidden Servants；
by Francesca Alexander （Little； Brown & Co。）。
This is a legend about a hermit who lived long ago。 He lived high up
on the mountain… side in a tiny cave； his food was roots and acorns； a bit
of bread given by a peasant； or a cheese brought by a woman who wanted
his prayers； his work was praying； and thinking about God。 For forty years
he lived so； preaching to the people； praying for them； comforting them in
trouble； and； most of all； worshiping in his heart。 There was just one thing
he cared about： it was to make his soul so pure and perfect that it could be
one of the stones in God's great Temple of Heaven。
One day； after the forty years； he had a great longing to know how far
along he had got with his work；how it looked to the Heavenly Father。
And he prayed that he might be shown a man
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〃Whose soul in the heavenly grace had grown To the selfsame
measure as his own； Whose treasure on the celestial shore Could neither
be less than his nor more。〃
As he looked up from his prayer； a white…robed angel stood in the
path before him。 The hermit bowed before the messenger with great
gladness； for he knew that his wish was answered。 〃Go to the nearest
town；〃 the angel said； 〃and there； in the public square； you will find a
mountebank （a clown） making the people laugh for money。 He is the man
you seek； his soul has grown to the selfsame stature as your own； his
treasure on the celestial shore is neither less than yours nor more。〃
When the angel had faded from sight； the hermit bowed his head again；
but this time with great sorrow and fear。 Had his forty years of prayer been
a terrible mistake； and was his soul indeed like a clown； fooling in the
market…place？ He knew not what to think。 Almost he hoped he should not
find the man； and could believe that he had dreamed the angel vision。 But
when he came； after a long； toilful walk； to the village； and the square； alas！
there was the clown； doing his silly tricks for the crowd。
The hermit stood and looked at him with terror and sadness； for he felt
that he was looking at his own soul。 The face he saw was thin and tired；
and though it kept a smile or a grin for the people； it seemed very sad to
the hermit。 Soon the man felt the hermit's eyes； he could not go on with
his tricks。 And when he had stopped and the crowd had left； the hermit
went and drew the man aside to a place where they could rest； for he
wanted more than anything else on earth to know what the man's soul was
like； because what it was； his was。
So； after a little； he asked the clown； very gently； what his life was；
what it had been。 And the clown answered； very sadly； that it was just as it
looked；a life of foolish tricks； for that was the only way of earning his
bread that he knew。
〃But have you never been anything different？〃 asked the hermit；
painfully。
The clown's head sank in his hands。 〃Yes； holy father；〃 he said； 〃I have
been something else。 I was a thief！ I once belonged to the wickedest band
of mountain robbers that ever tormented the land； and I was as wicked as
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the worst。〃
Alas！ The hermit felt that his heart was breaking。 Was this how he
looked to the Heavenly Father；like a thief； a cruel mountain robber？ He
could hardly speak； and the tears streamed from his old eyes； but he
gathered strength to ask one more question。 〃I beg you；〃 he said； 〃if you
have ever done a single good deed in your life； remember it now； and tell
it to me；〃 for he thought that even one good deed would save him from
utter despair。
〃Yes； one；〃 the clown said； 〃but it was so small； it is not worth telling；
my life has been worthless。〃
〃Tell me that one！〃 pleaded the hermit。
〃Once；〃 said the man； 〃our band broke into a convent garden and stole
away one of the nuns； to sell as a slave or to keep for a ransom。 We
dragged her with us over the rough； long way to our mountain camp； and
set a guard over her for the night。 The poor thing prayed to us so piteously
to let her go！ And as she begged； she looked from one hard face to another
with
