The Tupelo journal., 1905-11-17

III n -MVk1,<
&l-MNNS ering at the i'm
S@ZWV%s.U perial city of so
distinguished a
body of men created a profound I'M
preston throughout the realm. Dis
cussion of the unusual proceeding was
upon everybody's lips in the city, and
when the aged priest from Thebes
and his retinue of sages disembarked
from their barges, which had brought
them down the Nile as swiftly as the
best rivermen could bring them, the
excitement was at fever heat. With
silent awe the crowds watched the
stately procession as it proceeded to
the palace. Surely now the king would
obtain the counsel which he needed.
Various rumors had gotten abroad as
to the nature of the matter which
troubled the king. Some said that a
foreign foe threatened the country.
Others said that the king was plan
ming an expedition to the south, and
desired to know the mind of the gods
in regard to the enterprise. Still 9TH
ers declared that it had been reported
by the servant of the palace and those
close to the king hat a strange dream
had troubled him and that he sought
an Interpretation thereof, a thing
which up to the present time the wise
men and the magicians had been un-
able to give. But there was still hope,
for had not the astrologers and wise
men of the temple at ThebeS arrived,
and would o the kings heart now be
satisfied?
AS the procession neared the palace
the crowds of people became denser
and denser, for all were eager to catch
a glimpse of these men who knew the
secrets of the gods and could discern
the future. 1t was with increasing diff
ficulty that the Egyptian officers
cleared a pathway, and at last it be-
came necessary to use stern measures.
One fellow, more determined and in
quisitive than the rest of the throng,
pushed and elbowed his way to the
front, and burst at last into the very
pathway which the policemen had sue
ceeded in forcing. He "a instantly
seized, and after a severe beating for
HIS lSIlltIlty, was vi dSSCu On W III
prison. This incident was sufficient
warning to the crowd, and without
further trouble the palace was reached
and the wise men admitted to the
presence of the king, who since early
morning had been impatiently await
ing their arrival.
In the meantime the unruly specta-
tor had been hurried to the city pris-
on, but it being full, it was found nee
essary to take him to the kings pris-
on, where Joseph, the steward of the
Jail, entered the charges of the police
man upon the parchment n then
placed the prisoner in the inner dun
geon. The word or two which had
been dropped by the prisoner and the
policeman aroused the interest of Jo-
seph, who up to the present time had
not heard of the excitement in the
palace, for save as prisoners came into
the Jail, bringing news, he had nc
means of knowing what was transplr-
ing in the outer world. AS soon as
opportunity offered, therefore, he sum-
moned the man to him and eagerly
questioned him further.
And what think you is troubling
the king?" he asked.
There are many rumors afloat, but
the, report which gains the largest
credence is that the king has had a
dream upon his bed which gives him
great anxiety, and up to the coming
of the wise men from Thebes. none
had been able to explain to the king
the meaning thereof"
Joseph's heart leaped within him as
the man mentioned dream, and, seek
ing the seclusion of his own quarters,
he threw himself upon his face to the
ground, and cried out in the anguish
of his soul:
ooh, God, does not the Interpretation
of dreams belong unto Thee? Didst
not Thou give Thy servant wisdom to
tell the chief baker and the chief but
Ter the meaning of their dreams, and
did it not come to pass as Thy word
said? Oh, Lord, let the chief butler
speak favorably before the king at this
time Of Thy servant. 1t may be that
the Lord would give Pharaoh answer
to the questionings of his heart"
And as Joseph lay there his mind
ran back over the long, weary months
which had dragged themselves out
since two full years before he had
urged the chief butler to remember
him when he again served in the pres
ence Of Pharaoh. How expectantly he
had waited. Each day saw him look
ing for deliverance from the dreary
prison, and in spite Of the long de-
ferred hope, the deep-seated conviction
that God was yet going to bless and
help him still possessed him. Prompt
ly and faithfully, and v e cheerfully,
each days duties had been performed,
for, said he, over and yer again to
himself:
Tomorrow, it may be, God will
bring me out Of this place. ! will be
ready to depart
Often the recollection OF his boy
hood dreams came as q vague and per-
picking memory to him, but in spite of
the discousagements and hardness of