portion of her soul, and her lacerated affections
found repose and satisfaction, without the fear of change in His
unchanging love.

It is often so ordered in the Providence of God, that those who have
borne the yoke in their youth, live to see days of comparative quietude
and exemption from trouble. Hannah, after the birth of Samuel, appears
to have passed the remainder of her life in peace and prosperity. But
the nameless woman whose memorial we record had no respite. Her life was
a life of endurance, and she was cut off in the midst of her days by a
most fearful and agonizing stroke.

Israel was as usual at war with the Philistines. The army had pitched
beside Eben-ezer, "And the Philistines put themselves in array against
Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the
Philistines." Alarmed and distressed by this defeat, the Israelites
vainly imagining that wherever the ark of God was, there He would be
also with his favoring presence, sent up to Shiloh to bring from thence
the sacred symbol. With great pomp and solemnity it was borne by the
Priests and Levites, and uproarious was the rejoicing as it entered the
camp, but no account is given of the feelings of those who remained near
the deserted tabernacle. Did the aged Eli forbode that the awful event
which should signal the fulfillment of prophetic woe against his family
was about to befall? Did the abused wife dream that she should behold no
more her husband's face? We know not what of personal apprehension
mingled with their trouble, but we do know that with trembling hearts
these faithful servants of God awaited tidings of the ark of his
covenant. How portentous soever might be the cloud which hung over their
own happiness, they deemed it of small importance in comparison with the
honor of Jehovah. The messenger came, but who shall portray the scene
when he rendered his tidings!

* * * * *

In a darkened chamber, whither death, clothed in unwonted horrors, has
suddenly come for the fourth victim of that doomed family, lies the
subject of our meditations, panting under his iron grasp. The
afflictions of her life are now consummated. The husband of her youth,
his follies and faults against her, now are forgotten in the bitter
thought that _he is dead_, has gone unrepentant to the bar of God to
give account of his priesthood--her venerable father-in-law alone, with
no friend to cheer his dying agonies, has al