152 BOYS OF THE BIBLE.

mother this Hannah was, especially as seen in the light of
her own day! How earnestly she prayed!—so earnestly, so
passionately, that the old priest of Shiloh could not under-
stand her earnestness! Allin good time he came to understand
this woman of a sorrowful spirit, and sent her away with a
blessing.

‘“Go in peace,” he said, ‘‘and the God of Israel grant
thee thy petition that thou hast asked of Him.”

With Hannah’s prayer there was linked a sacrea vow.
If God would hear her and send a son to gladden her life
and the life of Elkanah her husband, she would devote him
to the service of the Lord all the days of his life.

And when the answer came to Hannah’s importunate
prayers, how joyfully she gave back to God the priceless
gift! There was the true spirit of sacrifice, giving to God
and to his service the best and dearest; and there also was
the reward of sacrifice, for Samuel was more dearly and
more tenderly hers now than he was God's. She laid her
gift upon that altar that sacrifices both giver and gift—and
bowed in adoring worship where she had bowed in pleading
prayer.

What manner of woman this mother of Samuel was,
may perhaps best be gathered from that grand psalm of praise
that breaks forth from her saintly lips as she holds in her
arms the reward of her faith and the answers to her impor-
tunate prayers. Call her prophetess, or poet, or what you
will, such songs as hers can never die.

My heart rejoiceth in the Lord,

Mine horn is exalted in the Lord:

My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies;
Because I rejoice in Thy salvation.

There is none holy as the Lord:

For there is none beside Thee: