48 PHARAOH'S DREAMS.

the land of Egypt; and then seven | ground. Did they remember Jo-
years of famine will begin, when | seph? No: for Joseph was only a
there will be no corn. Now let! boy when he went to Egypt; and
Pharaoh look for a wise man, and | now he was a man_ thirty-seven
set him over the land; and let him j years old: but Joseph remembered
gather up the corn in the seven good his brothers directly, and he re-
years, and keep it laid up in all the | membered, too, his dream of the
cities of Egypt: that when the sev- | sheaves of his brothers bowing down
en years of famine come, there may | to him; how wonderfully that dream
be food to eat? Pharaoh was! was now explained! But Joseph
pleased with Joseph’s wisdom and | did not tell his brothers who he was,
advice; and he said, Joseph should | for he wished to try if they were
rule over the land, and the people | still wicked, cruel, deceitful men ;
should obey him. Then the king | or if they were sorry for their past
gave him a ring, and put a chain | sins, and had turned to God. So
upon his neck, and dressed him in | he asked, “ Who are you? Whence
fine linen, and made him ride ina| do you come?” ‘They said, “We
chariot; and all the people honored | come from Canaan to buy corn.”
him. Then he asked again, “Have you
During the seven plenteous years, | more brothers?” ‘They said, “ We
Joseph commanded the people to | were twelve brothers; but now one
gather up the corn, and lay it safely | is not, and the youngest is with his
in barns and storehouses; and they | father in the land of Canaan.” But
gathered very much corn; so much | Joseph said, “I do not know if you
that they could not count it. But tell me the truth or not: I will
the seven good years ended, and, prove you: one of you shall stay
then the seven bad years began. It | here a prisoner; and the others shall
was asad time. ‘There was no corn | go, and take corn for your families,
to reap: all was dry and dead; and | and bring your youngest brother to
the poor people cried for food. me; then I shall know that you
The famine was in Canaan also; | are true men.” ‘The brothers were
Jacob and his sons had no bread. } much distressed to hear this, and
But the Egyptians came to Joseph, | Joseph too was distressed to see
and he opened all the store-houses, | their sorrow ; and he turned away
and sold corn to them: and when | and wept. Then he hid his tears,
that was gone, they came again, and | and took Simeon, and bound him
bought more; and Joseph had | before their eyes.
plenty for them all. So when Ja-| Joseph did all this not from re-
cob heard that there was corn in| venge, but to make his brothers
Egypt, he sent his ten eldest sons | remember and feel their past sins,
to buy some: but Benjamin staid | and their unkindness to him. And
with his father; for Jacob loved|so they did. They said one to an-
him so much, that he did not like | other, “We are verily guilty con-
him to go away. ‘The ten brothers | cerning our brother, because we saw
went to Egypt, and came and stood | the anguish of his soul when he be-
‘before Joseph, and bowed to the | sought us, and we would not hear: