St. Tammany farmer., 1905-12-02

M ASy luSS at dellOpOllS
pNI \hf were whispering
%4 S and expectant. 1t
u <y was evident that
something unusual had happened, or
was about to happen. The people
stood in groups talking IN low tones
while at the same time their eyes
were on the alert as though unwilling
to miss some expected sight.
Eyes, 1 knew about it this morn
ing, for Knakias, Potiphar's head
gardener, told me-" said one with
superior air, and all in the group
pressed close about him, exclaiming:
"Oh, do tell us all about it,"
"Well," calculated one Of the listen.
ers, after the speaker had finished his
story, that's what comes from put
ting so much power and authority in
the hands of a Hebrew slave" and
the words were accompanied by a
sinister sneer and angry shake of the
head.
Hell surely be hanged" spoke up
another.
Flush! Here they come" cautioned
the first speaker, and all eyes were
suddenly turned in the direction he
pointed.
A guard Of soldiers was clearing a
pathway through the crowded street
and behind them walked one of the
prison attendants leading by rope
the prisoner, whose hands were man
acled, but instead of the covering look
of fear, the tagging step and the bowed
form, such as was to be expected from
one who was charged with SO heinous
a crime and who faced almost certain
death, the form was erect, the steI
firm and the face, though drawn and
tense, had upon it no lines Of fear
or cringing subserviency. The manly
dignified bearing, the self-contained
poise of the head, the earnest open
countenance, the frank eyes looking
out straight before them were all
noted by the curious, unsympathetie
crowds as he passed, and the taunts
of derision and jeers Of contempt died
away on their lips. And while they
we're lost in wonder Joseph the pris
oner, the accused Hebrew slave, dis
appeared behind the dark doors of the
kings prison. With scant ceremony
he was thrust into the dark cell of the
inner court, there to wait his doom.
"Were it not that he had been sucl
a faithful servant, and that all my
business had prospered in his hands
I would order his execution at once, u
Potiphar exclaimed, as he paced 'ul
and down in the Offices of the keeper
Of the prison.
It could be seen that he was deeply
agitated. He was angry with Joseph
but it was quite apparent that he fell
keenly the downfall of so valued q
slave. Turning suddenly upon the
keeper, he continued:
"See what thou canst do with him
II he will but confess his guilt and
express repentance I will restore him
his place. But plead and threaten
as I will l can wiring from him nc
word or look that would condemn
him. He stubbornly maintains his in
nocence. Deal harshly with him. II
may be he will consider the folly OF
his ways"
The keeper Of the prison bowed hi.
acceptance Of the commission, and
Po..phar departed. That was the be
ginning of severe days Of trial for the
accused Joseph. Seated on the hard
floor of his dark, gloomy quarters he
waited. Had God forgotten? What profit
now for all his loyalty to God and his
faithful service? Did 1t pay to dc
right? Yes. he thought. as the light
of Gods presence stole into his heart
It Is better to be able to look up into
His face in innocency than to hold
all that Egypt could give, or even
life itself, II it must be won by wrong
doing. Virtue is her own reward,
after all, and the clean heart and life
kept so by firm purpose in the face
Of sore temptation possess m In
ward peace and confidence which can.
not be shaken or destroyed by even
the bitterest prosecutions from with.
out. Thus It was with Joseph, and
It enabled him to rise above the pri.
vations and tha trials of the days
which followed. The. keeper of the
prison was FIRST exasperatei, then puz.
zled,- and at last won by his cheerful
yet calm demeanor During the days
after his first interview with Joseph
he tried to frighten and crush him
into submission. Scant was his fare,
and the bastinado WAS repeatedly used
upon him to wiring from him the con-
fession which Potiphar SO much
wanted. But all to no purpose, and
at last the keeper Of the prison re
solved that he would resort to ex-
treme measures. II Joseph would not
admit his guilt he should hang, and
In order to impress him with the
aNfulness Of the penalty which threat
ened him. 1t was arranged that he
should witness the execution Of one Of
the kings servants who had incurred
the royal disfavor and was to be
hanged. The day before the sentence
was to be carried out the con semned
man was placed in the dungeon with
Joseph, the keeper reasoning that the
terror and apprehension Of the man
would 30 work upon Joseph,s nerves
as to n.ake the latter break down
when he. too. should stand In the