alestine. Her lonely home nestled
among the lonely hills. She loved to commune with the Lord, for deep in
her bosom she carried a sorrow that only he could help her to bear. Her
home lacked that sweet sunlight which innocent childhood brings. She
longed and prayed for a little life to guide and direct in the ways of
the Lord.

Once every year she went with her husband to Shiloh, where sacrifices
were offered, and there publicly worshiped the Lord. When at the house
of the Lord one day, she prayed long and earnestly that God would grant
the desire of her heart. "O Lord of hosts," she prayed, "if thou wilt
indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and
not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man
child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and
there shall no razor come upon his head."

A scene like this must have been rare even to the priest of God; for he
mistook this sad woman for one drunken with wine. She begged him not to
look upon her as such. When the man of God saw by her modest, earnest
words that she was not drunken as he had supposed, he changed his
reproof into a blessing. "Go in peace," he said, "and the God of Israel
grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him." With perfect confidence
that God had heard and answered prayer, the woman arose and returned
with her husband to their home in Ramah.

The next year she did not go up to Shiloh; for God had granted her
petition and had given her a little son. Her husband was willing for her
to remain at home, but he cautioned her not to forget her promise to the
Lord. He feared, perhaps, that the mother might become so attached to
her child that she would be unwilling to part with him as she had
promised. His warning was unnecessary.

As soon as Samuel (for this is what the mother named her son) was old
enough to be useful, she took him to the house of God and presented him
to the Lord. It must have sounded to the aged priest (who soon would
have to cease his work upon earth) like a voice from heaven, when the
happy mother, pointing to her child, said: "For this child I prayed; and
the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: therefore also
I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to
the Lord."

Again the mother prays; this time not in sorrow, but from a heart filled
with thanksgiving. She feels no regret because of her vow. Her child
became a great ble