The Tupelo journal., 1905-11-10

Thou hast naught to fear II thy
heart is guiltless," Joseph was say.
ing. "Only he whose wickedness has
been his undoing needs to tremble at
DEATH"
"Yea, but I would live"
"But if it hath been decreed diff
ferently it were we'll for thee to die
like a mar upon whom no stain Of
crime rests"
But fearests thou not thy fate?"
NAY, l fear rather to do wrong.
I, like thee, am accused wrongfully.
1t is through no wickedness on my
part that l am here. The God Of
Heaven, from Whom nothing is hid,
knows the innocency of my hands and
will not forget me in my trouble. He
is able to deliver if He so wills. I
can trust Him. He Who has kept me
since I was brought into Egypt will
continue to care for me-"
"Ah, l wish I could feel as thou
dost. None of the gods of the Egyp-
tians is able to so do. But thou hast
helped me. Thy sweet confidence has
cheered my heart. / shall sleep now.
The terrors of the morrow shall not
rob me of my rest"
And the keeper, standing there in
the darkness, waited until the deep
regular breathing told that sleep had
come and then, wondering and trou-
bled, he quietly stole away. Never
before had he had such a prisoner
as was this servant of Potiphar. Never
before had he found an accused and
imprisoned man who was not willing
to do most anything to escape punish
ment. He felt uneasy and anxious,
and troubled dreams broke his rest.
The next morning, as he was prepar-
ing to carry out the decree Of Pharaoh,
he received a message from the palace,
on which the seal of the king was yet
fresh, ordering that the condemned
servant be restored to his place and
the sentence of death r%escinded.
The conversation of the night before
flashed across his mind, and as he
turned towards the dungeon he NUT
tered:
by the gods of all the Egyptians, 1t
beats even the great god Osiris.
What would the priests think to hear
Joseph speak of his NJ. l fear to
trouble the man further. Surely he
is more righteous than his a%ccusers."
He drew the bar back with a thud.
NJ ,oo4 Io0r orooI1aI IN it5
hinges as he pushed it open and
stepped within. In the dim light hs
could see the two prisoners seated
side by side talking together, and as
he became accustomed to the gloom
of the place he could see that the look
of abject terror which had distorted
the face of the kings servant the
night before was gone n in its
place there rested an expression of
resignation mingled with hope. Az
soon as he had been released and re-
turned to his place in the palace the
keeper had Joseph brought to him,
determined to learn more fully con.
corning him.
Tell me of myself" he demanded,
bluntly, when Joseph appeared. Up
to the present time he had not given
the man an opportunity to speak for
himself. having demanded only that
he confess his guilt and plead for
mercy.
But of what avail is it that I
should speak? Have l not already
told thee that | am not guilty of the
crime charged against me-"
But l would hear thy story-thy
side of the case" persisted the keeper.
II may only declare my innocence.
may not speak against the wife OF
my master"
The keeper looked into the clear-cut,
earnest face before him. He noted the
frank, straightforward expression OF
the eye. He felt the power OF that
| quiet voice which protested his lnno'
cence. And he liked the magnanimous
spirit which prompted him to refuse
to make any charges against the wom'
an who had been responsible for bis
| downfall. But he was puzzled to
know the secret of the young mans
reserve and quiet self-possession in
the face of his difficulties and dangers.
"Carest thou not that these troubles
have come upon thee? How canst
thou be cheerful and hopeful in the
face of thy misfortunes?"
Joseph searched the face of the man
who I'D to the present moment had
done his utmost to break him down.
He saw that it was no idle curiosity
which had prompted his questions.
HE only needs to fear who does
wickedly. Why should not hope I'LL
the heart and cheerfulness rest on the
c~ountenance of him whose God is the
Lord of Heaven? The God OF my
fathers Who has been with me in
prosperity will not leave me now that
the clouds of adversely have settled
about me. God can make even the
darkness to bring blessing to the day
which follows, for is it not in the
night that the refreshing dew falls,
and is it not then that nature gathers
| strength and inspiration for the
growth of another day.?
But thou art in prison, and in the
shadow of the hangman's moose. Can
thy God be with thee still to give thee
help?" asked the keeper, more than
ever mystified by the confidence OF
Joseph.
"Yea, the true and living God is not
kept back by prison bars, and even
the plots of the wicked come to naught
- e..4I Lis hond To gave ~