Rabbi Meir, the House of Eli, and the Crown of Old Age

"And the man of yours whom I shall not cut off from My altar, etc." (1 Samuel 2:33). Rabbi Meir went up to a certain place called Mamla, and he found there men whose heads were black. He said to them: "Tell me, perhaps you are from the family of Eli?" — concerning whom it is written, "And all the increase of your house shall die as men" (1 Samuel 2:33). They said to him: "Rabbi, pray for us." He said to them: "Occupy yourselves with charity, and you will lengthen your days." He read before them this verse: "A crown of glory is the hoary head" (Proverbs 16:31) — where is it found? "In the way of charity it is found" (ibid.).