him out, and sold him to them as a slave; they then dipped his coat in some blood, and showed it to their father, who was much grieved, and thought that some wild beast had devoured him.

These wicked men little thought that, by selling their brother into a strange land, they were taking the very step which would bring to pass those dreams which had so offended them, or that they themselves were soon to follow and bow before him but we shall see how often human designs fail in their end, and the history of Joseph is a most striking instance of the power of that God who can mould even the hearts of kings to do his will.

When the Midianites who had bought Joseph, reached Egypt, they sold him to Potiphar, who was an officer of Pharaoh's. Here he conducted himself so well that the hand of God was with him, and he obtained great favor with his master, who made him ruler over all his house, and, from the time that he entered his master's house, we read that the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house and in the field.

In the midst of all this prosperity, he was falsely accused, and thrown into prison, where he lay for more than two years.

But He who had preserved his life when thrown into the pit, and who had caused him to find favor with his master

could bring him out of this trouble, and make him yet greater than he had ever been.

While in prison, he obtained the favor of the jailer, who gave him the command of every thing, and put all who were in the prison under his care. Among these were the chief butler and baker of Pharaoh's household, who each of them dreamed a dream, which greatly troubled them.

Joseph interpreted them, and told the chief butler that, within three days, he should be set at liberty, and wait again upon the king; and he asked him to remember him when it should be well with him, and get him out of prison but he foretold a different fate unto the chief baker, for he said that, within three days, he should be put to death.

Both these events took place; yet the butler did not recollect Joseph, and there is no saying how long he might have been kept a prisoner, had not Pharaoh the king dreamed a dream, which none could interpret. To interpret is to explain the meaning of a thing; and the kings of Egypt, as well as some others in those days, used to keep persons on purpose to interpret to them signs and dreams. But none of the wise men of the land could explain the king's dream.

Then the chief butler remembered Joseph, and told Pharaoh what had happened to him when in prison. Upon this, the king sent for Joseph, who, when he was brought

before him, said that he could not of himself understand the dream, but that God would give him an answer of peace.

I will not here tell you what the king dreamed, because you may turn to the forty-first chapter of Genesis, and read it.

Joseph foretold that there would be seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, which should be . followed by seven years of famine so severe that the plenty should be no more remembered. He then advised Pharoah to name some wise men, who should collect a fifth part of the fruits of the land during the years of plenty, that they might not starve when the famine should come.

The king thought that, as the Lord had showed all this to Joseph, no person could be better fitted for the office: he accordingly made him rule over all the land of Egypt, and next in power to himself; and he went through the land, and laid up corn in all the cities against the day of famine.

STORY OF JOSEPH-CONTINUED.

I SUPPOSE you are sufficiently interested in the history of Joseph, to wish to hear how he behaved in the high rank to which he had been raised: his history, indeed, is most wonderful.

He was brought into Egypt a young captive boy, the victim of his brothers' envy; and, in the course of a few years, we see him filling an office of the highest trust, below none in power but the king himself; the lives of the people seeming to depend on his prudence and foresight; the time fast. approaching when his dream should be fulfilled, when his brethren should bow before him, and when they should ask their very lives of that brother whom they had hated, and sold as a slave.

After the seven years of great plenty had gone, then, as Joseph had foretold, came seven years of grievous famine : then were the store-houses which he had filled thrown open, and the people came to buy corn. But the scarcity was grievously felt among other nations than that of Egypt; for we read that the famine was over all the face of the earth.'

Joseph's father, who lived in the land of Canaan, heard