"'And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.
"'Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.'"
The cripple could read no more; he looked at the old man, his heart sickened, and his eyes filled with tears.
"Why do you not continue?" asked the old man.
"It is dark; I cannot see the words."
"That is false; I feel the last rays of the sun on my face; why do you not read on?"
The cripple wiped the tears from his eyes, and again began to read:—
"'And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to-day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?
"'And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.'"
But here he could no longer contain himself, and, sobbing bitterly, he leant his head on the old man's knee, and hid his face in his hands.