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BOYS OF THE BIBLE.

SIMEON.

Deeds such as this have oft no doubt been done,
And secrecy has covered all in darkness.

LEVI.
Yes: many a deed as dark ne’er saw the light.

REUBEN.

Simeon and Levi, ye are brethren; and it may be
Even as ye have said. But, O! my soul,
Come not into the secret of such men. With them
Mine honor be not thou united. Instrurnents
Of cruelty are in their habitations. Cursed, then,
Be their fierce anger and their cruel wrath.
Beware, my brethren: shed not the lad’s blood.
For is he not your brother? How could you bear
To. hear him plead for mercy?—Could you resist
His struggles for existence?—Could you look
Upon his quivering lip and dying eye?—That lip
You oft have kissed with transport—and that eye
Which beams with such a meek intelligence
Beyond his years. And then our aged father—
How could you meet the venerable saint? Or how
Answer his searching questions? Sin not then,
Let me entreat you, thus against the lad.
What evil hath he done? why should he die?
Mere childish vanity deserves not death.
And, more than this, ye charge not Joseph with.

One thing let me entreat ere you resolve;

In yonder pit let down the lad, and then
Take further thought how ye will punish him,
But never do a deed so dark and deadly ;—
Hush! he is here.

Reuben was successful. As the unsuspecting Joseph drew

near, he was rudely seized by his angry brethren.

coat was taken off, and he was dragged into one of the pits
or fastnesses in the rocks, where the jackals prowl and the
This meant death and starva-
tion to Joseph, unless some unlooked-for deliverance speedily
We can well imagine Joseph pleading with angry,

wild beasts make their home.

came.

envious brethren.