Nineteenth Sunday.
SAMUEL.
FIRST READING.
"Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child."—1 Sam. 2:18.
YOUNG SAMUEL BROUGHT TO ELI.
THERE was a very good woman named Hannah, and she grieved because she had no children. Whenever she came with her husband to God's holy place, she used to kneel, and pray with all her heart to God that He would let her have a son; and she promised that if she had one, she would lend him to the Lord all the days of his life.
At last God granted her prayer, and gave her a little son, and she named him Samuel. She was very glad when he was born, and she thanked God, and sang a hymn of praise for her dear little child. But she had promised to lend him to the Lord all his life; and she kept her promise.