The commonwealth., 1905-11-10

! man was pIdScu IN tHS duh5NNH "'N
Joseph, the keeper reasoning that the
terror and apprehension of the man
would 80 work upon Joseph's nerves
as to make the latter break down
when he, too, should stand in the
shadow of the gallows. Late at night
the keeper, anxious to know how MS
plan was succeeding, softly entered
the inner prison, and hearing voices
be paused TO listen.
Thou hast naught to fear IL thy
heart IS guiltless," Joseph was say
ing. "Only he whose wickedness has
been his undoing needs to tremble at
| death"
Yea. but would live"
"But ii it hath been decreed diff
ferently ii were well for thee to die
/ like a man upon whom no stain Of
| crime rests
But fearest thou not thy fate?"
Nay, | fear rather to do wrong.
/ !, like thee, am accused wrongfully.
/ II is through no wickedness on my
/ part that | 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. |
can trust Him. He Who has kept me
/ since | was brought into Egypt will
continue TO care for me-"
"Ah, I wish | 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
eheered my heart. shall sleep now.
! The terrorg of the morrow shall rot
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 ne was prepar.
ing TO carry out the decree Of Pharaoh.
he received 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the sentence of death rescinded.
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. it
beats even the great god Osiris.
What would the priests think to hear
Joseph speak of his uv4. | fear to
trouble the man further Surely he
is more righteous than his accusers."
He drew the bar back with a thud.
The great door creaked on its
hinges as he pushed it open and
stepped within. In the dim light he
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 abiect terror which had distorted
the face of the kings servant the
night before was gone and in its
place there rested an expression of
resignation mingled with hope. AS
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 thyself," 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 | would hear thy story-thy
side of the case persisted the keeper.
Il may only declare my innocence.
| may not speak against the wife of
my master"
Joseph searched the face OF the man
who up 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.
"IIe only needs to fear who does
wickedly. Why should not hope fill
the heart and cheerfulness rest on the
eountenance 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 1t 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 dayg'
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 mystifled 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
when He puts forth His hand to save"