The Tupelo journal., 1905-11-03

Abraham had gone down into Egypt
years and years before and how at
last he had come out with great sub
stance, and the memory comforted
him, and he felt the hope rising with
in him that he, too, would return to
the land of his fathers some day.
But one resolve fixed itself firmly
within his heart, and that vas that
he would remain true to his God and
be patient and faithful in whatever
place his lot was cast.
Over and over again the next day
as they continued the journey and at
last in the afternoon entered the city
this thought was uppermost in the
boys mind, and instead OF giving way
to his loneliness and grief he studi-
ously set himself to see and hear and
learn all that he could. 1t was his
first sight Of a great city, and he
found himself marveling at the beauty
and grandeur OF the buildings, the
temples, the great statues, and the
lofty obelisks, which seemed to him
to reach farther towards the blue OF
the ~cloudless sky than the beloved
mountains of Hebron.
In the market place, whittier they
directed their course, they found the
motley throng which had filled the
court all day long beginning to dis
perse. The traders after displaying
their wares all the day were now
packing them up and preparing for
the night which was then not far of,
for the sun was just dropping be-
hind the lofty tablelands of the
Libyan desert. The new arrivals CON
ing at that late hour did not attract
much attention, and they soon found
a place for their camels and asses,
and quickly began to make themselves
comfortable for the night, while the
leader fastened off, eager to find
Puhor and arrange with him for the
purchase of Joseph.
Better take him with me-" he NUT
tered to himself, abruptly turning and
retracing his steps; zone sight of the
youth will be better than all the fair
praise which l can speak"
Now it CHANGED that very day THAT
Puhor, who was a man of violent tenn
per, had for a trivial offense struck
one Of the slaves with the heavy
stave which he always carried when
supervising the work of the garden,
and had SO badly injured him that
he was incapable Of further service.
That evening the king was to hold
a garden party and when too late he
had realized that he al sh~ort-handed
and was quite in despair what to do,
for he needed a slave to attend to
the lamps near the main ~banqueting
table. 1t was at this juncture that
Joseph and his master were admit.
ted to the garden and the attendant
came and notified Puhor that a party
waited without to see him.
Let him wait" he muttered, churl'
ishly. This is a pretty time of day
to come And turning he again
dropped into a sullen study over the
problem which confronted him. Had
he known who it was awaiting him
at the gate he would not have been
so slow to respond, but fortunately for
Joseph circumstances were to deliver
him from a cruel master and from a
situation which would have meant
his ruin.
Voices on the far side of a clump
Of beautiful rose bushes drew Josephs
attention while he stood waiting, for
the words spoken were in Aramaic.
1t was two of the slaves of the gar
den and one was telling the other
what Puhor had that day done to
one Of the servants.
"No one is safe in his presence"
he ended by saying, and as they
moved off Joseph caught the words of
the other:
"The gods pity the wretch who is
found to fill his place"
Joseph's heart sank within him.
Was this the kind of a master into
whose hands he was to be sold? Was
this to be his lot? Was he to be
in daily fear Of his life and suffer
humiliation and cruel blows? A bit
ter struggle began within his heart
and the few brief moments he stood
there seemed an age to him in which
doubt and distrust of God sought to
gain the mastery. But at last a silent
prayer rose from his heart and he
found himself pleading for help, and
as though by way of answer there
came stealing into his heart a new
confidence in God.
sAh,c1o~o tr1cfnd GOd Whnn In
Egypt" he thought, land God de-
livered him from his perils. Will He
not be as gracious to one of Abraham's
seed?"
An exclamation Of surprise and
pleasure aroused him and he looked
up to see the Egyptian officer who had
accosted him at the river the after
noon before standing watching him
with a gratifed smile. and he heard
him say to the Ishmaelite trader:
.Thou dost seek a purchaser? I
would be possessed of the youth.
Name thy price and Potiphar, the
captain of the kings guard, will pay
it. Had not the urgency of my mis-
sion required haste / should have tar
ried yesterday and sought to buy the
youth from thee"
But | had purposed to sell him to
Puhor, who would pay a goodly sum.
He is always in need of fresh slaves"
replied the cautious trader.
YEA, that he is. But Puhor will
not cover thy palms with gold as will
- - xy--.-L-- IT,