he said they might go home; he would keep only one of them till they should bring their brother Benjamin.

Joseph spoke in the language of Egypt, but he remembered the language of Canaan, his own country. His brothers spoke the language of Canaan. When one of them was to be kept behind in Egypt, they remembered how they had treated their brother Joseph long before. They said one to another, that God was now punishing them for their cruelty to Joseph. Joseph's brothers did not know that he understood them. He longed to take them in his arms, and to tell them he forgave them; he was obliged to turn away, to hide his tears from them. He did not choose to tell them so soon that he was their brother; he took one of his brothers and bound him before their eyes; then the nine others went away, carrying as much food as they wanted.

Their corn was tied in large bags or sacks, and they paid money for it; but when they opened the sacks they found the money in them; this made them a little uneasy ;-they did not know what it meant. When they got home, they told their father all that had happened. Their father was very unhappy; he said, Joseph was gone, and Simeon was gone, and they would take his young son Benjamim away also. Jacob would not let Benjamin go.

In a little while they ate up the food which they had bought, and they wanted more. Jacob bid his sons go again; his sons would not go unless Jacob would allow Benjamin to go also.

At last Jacob consented, and he sent Joseph a present of spice, and honey, and nuts.

When the brothers arrived in Egypt Joseph invited them all to come to his house and dine. The brothers were afraid to go; they said, 66 perhaps he will say that we stole the money which we found in our sacks." They told one of Joseph's servants that they were afraid; but the man said they need not fear, that he had put their money into their sacks. He brought out their brother Simeon to them, gave them water to wash, and gave them food for their asses.

They gave Joseph the presents which they had brought, and he inquired for their father's health. When Joseph saw Benjamin, his mother's son, he longed to take him in his arms; he was obliged to go out and weep. They had a good meal, but Benjamin had more food given to him than the others. They were all happy together.

When they had finished their business, and were about to return home, Joseph commanded the steward to fill the sacks, and to put the money into them as before; he also ordered him to put a silver cup, besides the money, into Benjamin's sack. Early the next morning they went away. Soon after they were gone Joseph bade his servant follow his brothers, and ask them for his silver cup, and to speak to them angrily, as if they had stolen the

cup.

The man did as he was commanded. But the sons of Jacob declared that none of them had the - cup; they said if it should be found among them the man who took it should be a servant to Jo

seph. Each began to search his sack. The cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

They were all in great trouble; they knew not how the cup was put into the sack; and they took their way back again to the city, which they had just left; here, they fell down before Joseph, offering to become his servants. Joseph said, he would not keep them all, he would take only the one who had taken the cup. The brothers thought of their poor father; they remembered how he had loved Joseph; they feared he might die if he should lose this dear son also. Judah begged Joseph to take him for a servant, and to let Benjamim go home.

Joseph could no longer deceive his brothers, he commanded the people who were by to go out. For some time he wept too much to speak, when he could speak, he said, "I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold-Does my father live?" His brothers could not answer him; but this great and generous man told them not to be grieved; he kissed them all, and wept very much when he took Benjamin in his arms. Benjamin was younger than Joseph; he was a child when Joseph was sold, and could not have hated him, or have known what was done to him.

The king was very kind to Joseph's brothers, and sent their father many presents when they went back to him. Joseph invited his brothers to come and live with him in Egypt, and sent for his father to come likewise.

Jacob could hardly believe that Joseph was alive when his sons told him so; after some time, however, he did believe it, and afterwards went

with them into Egypt. When he had seen Joseph he was willing to die; but he lived happily with his children in Egypt seventeen years. cob died in Egypt; his sons lived and died there also. They were all very happy.

Ja

This is a very beautiful story; it is found in nine chapters of the book of Genesis; the first book in the Bible. It begins in the thirty-seventh chapter (the thirty-eighth chapter contains nothing about Joseph) and ends in the fortyseventh.

There are some parts of this story, some words in it, which children cannot understand. What has been read you can understand. When you are older you will love to read it in the Bible.

The names of Jacob's sons were, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph, Benjamin.

Jacob was sometimes called Israel; his children were called Israelites. The children which lived after them were also called Israelites and sometimes Hebrews. When they first went into Egypt, there were seventy persons in all, men, women, and children.

Four hundred years passed away. The sons of Jacob died; their children all died; they left children, who had children, and they also had children. At the end of four hundred years, there were many thousand persons in Egypt of the posterity of Jacob. When the Israelites first went into Egypt, the people of Egypt

treated them very kindly. After some time, when there were many Israelites, the Egyptians became cruel to them: they made slaves of the Israelites.

EXPLANATIONS.

Shepherd-A man who takes care of sheep. Pit-A deep place in the earth, deeper than a cellar.

Drugs-Substances used for medicine.
Famine-Scarcity of food.

Spies-Dishonest people who go about with a secret intention to learn what they can concerning others, and afterwards to relate what they have seen of other people's conduct. Spies frequently intend to injure those whose actions they observe; they seldom undertake such business from mere impertinence; they are com monly hired by some enemy or tyrant, who wishes to control or to injure those who are watched by spies.

Prostration-Respect shown to great men by lying down at their feet. This is done now in some countries. Persons among us who wish to show respect to others only bend their bodies, or bow; but in Asia, princes, and men in high stations, expect that those who visit them will prostrate themselves before them.

Posterity-Those who will live after us.

Slave-A person who is obliged to work for another without pay; who can do nothing as he pleases, but must do what his master pleases; he may be bought and sold, like a horse, or any other animal. The man who owns the slave is called his master.