present state of famine.

"If it must be so

now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down to the man a present, a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds; and take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand, peradventure it was an oversight. Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man, and GOD Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved."

Accordingly the little party of brothers set out again, Benjamin being one of the number; and they took double money, and the present their father sent; and so they came to Egypt and went at once to Joseph. As soon as Joseph saw Benjamin, the only other child of his own mother, his heart yearned upon him; but all he did then was to bid the steward of his household to take the Hebrew men home to Joseph's house, and make a feast, and cause them to dine with him at noon.

The steward obeyed Joseph's orders, but the Hebrew visitors were very much alarmed at be

ing thus taken to Joseph's house, and they said to each other, "Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in, that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses." So the first thing they did was to tell the steward how surprised they had been about the returned money, and that they had now brought it back again, as well as other money. But the steward quieted their fears, saying, "Peace be to you, fear not, your GoD and the GOD of your father hath given you treasure in your sacks-I had your money.'

Then the steward brought Simeon to them, and treated them very kindly, giving them water to refresh themselves with, and feeding their asses, and told them that it was the governor's pleasure that they should dine with him. So they made ready their present, and when Joseph came home at noon, they brought it to him, and bowed themselves down to the ground before him. He spoke very kindly to them, and asked, "Is your father well? the old man of whom ye spake, is he yet alive?" And they answered, "Thy servant our father is in good health-he is yet alive." And again they did obeisance to Joseph. Then Joseph looked

upon Benjamin, and asked,

"Is this your

youngest brother, of whom ye spake unto me?" And out of the fulness of his heart he said, "God be gracious unto thee, my son."

By this time, Joseph was so moved that he could no longer conceal his feelings, so he left his guests hastily, and went to his own chamber, and wept freely. Then when his full heart was somewhat relieved, he washed his face, and putting a strong restraint upon himself, he called for the feast, and all sat down to dinner. But still Joseph behaved as if he were an Egyptian, and had a separate meal for himself according to the custom of Egypt. Joseph as the master of the house, sent portions of food to all his guests, but he sent the best of everything to Benjamin. The brothers could not understand it at all, and were very much astonished, but they were well pleased with their treatment, and so they all ate and drank, and were very merry.

JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN.

THAT evening Joseph desired his steward to fill the sacks of the Hebrew guests, and again

to put in their money, and moreover he gave orders that his own silver cup should be put with the money into Benjamin's sack. With the earliest daylight the next morning the travellers set forth on their way home. Joseph waited till such time as they would have got a little way from the city, and then he bid his steward to follow and stop them, and ask what they meant by stealing his silver cup? The steward obeyed all Joseph's directions, and very naturally the sons of Jacob denied the accusation, saying, "Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing. Behold the money which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the Land of Canaan, how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondsmen."

The steward agreed that whoever had the silver cup should be detained as Joseph's bondman, and that the rest should go free. Then all the brothers made haste to open their sacks, anxious to prove what they felt so certain of, that none of them had the silver cup. The steward began with the eldest and examined

them all; one by one they triumphantly saw him fail in his search, until just as their anxiety was coming to an end, and he examined Benjamin's sack, the missing cup was found therein.

Then the brothers were in utter despair, they rent their clothes, and one and all turned back to the city with the steward, and went to Joseph, and fell on the ground at his feet. Then Joseph reproached them with deceiving him, and Judah answered, saying, "What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? GOD hath found out the iniquity of thy servants, behold we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found."

Joseph wished to try them, whether they were selfishly thinking of themselves, and so would forsake Benjamin, and to this he made answer, "God forbid that I should do so, but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant, and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father."

Then Judah came forth from the rest, and began to speak very earnestly to Joseph, "Oh my lord," he said, "let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant, for