Chapter VI: Prologue: This is the story of the call of Samuel. The scene is

Shiloh, before the door of the tabernacle. Lo, there entereth Eli,
priest of Israel. (PROLOGUE _withdraws._)

(ELI, _the old priest, enters, and stands praying._)

ELI: O Lord God, turn thou my sons, I pray thee, from their evil
ways. Lo, they come yonder, full of wine and drink, a disgrace to
mine old age.

(HOPHNI _and_ PHINEHAS _come swaggering in, arm in arm. One has a jug of wine; he drinks and hands it to the other._ ELI _raises a trembling hand toward them._)

HOPHNI: Hi there, old man, art going to chide again?

PHINEHAS (_mockingly_): Do not show anger, for anger doth not become
a man of God.

ELI: My sons, why will ye tempt the Lord your God? Turn from your
evil ways and pray. (_Lays a hand on_ HOPHNI.)

HOPHNI (_jerking away_): I pray not, I! Thou hast ever said the Lord
was slow to anger.

ELI: Yea, but the cup of your iniquity is full; and I--I suffer in
your fall.

PHINEHAS (_laughs mockingly_): Ah, so? The iniquity of the children
shall be visited upon the fathers? Eh? Well, who is responsible if
not the father? Come, Hophni, come where it is merry.

HOPHNI (_eagerly_): Yea! (_They go out singing and taking turns at
jug._)

ELI (_raising his arms despairingly to heaven_): O God! God! (_Passes
out._)

(_Enter_ HANNAH, _followed by her husband_, ELKANAH. _She is weeping._)

ELKANAH (_imploringly_): Hannah, why weepest thou? And why is thy
heart so grieved? If it be because thou hast no son, grieve not. Am I
not better to thee than ten sons?

HANNAH: Ai, my husband, the women mock me that I have no child. (_She
kneels and prays silently._)

(ELI _enters and observes her in wonder, for silent prayer was unusual._)

ELI: Woman, what ails thee?

HANNAH (_rising_): Ah, sir, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit; I pour
out my soul before the Lord.

ELI: Give me to know thy sorrow.

HANNAH: I prayed unto the Lord that he would look upon the affliction
of his handmaid, and give unto me a man-child. If he do so, then will
I give the child unto the Lord all the days of his life.

ELI: A man-child? Nay, ask more. Ask that he grow in the grace and
love of God, else will the gift be one of sorrow.

HANNAH: Ah, sir, that shall be _my_ task--to lead him in the love of
God.

ELI: Ai, 'tis there that _I_ have failed. (_He raises his hands and
blesses her._) Go thou in peace, and the Lord grant thy petition.

HANNAH (_bowing_): May thy servant find grace in thy sight. (_She
and_ ELKANAH _go._)

ELI (_prays_): O Lord God, O let this, thy servant, find grace in thy
sight. Forgive thou the iniquity of my sons. For who shall follow
after me, O Lord? Who shall be judge of Israel, if not my sons? Hear
my prayer, O Lord, and give unto me an answer of peace. (_He bows his
head and passes out._)

(_The_ PROLOGUE _reenters._)