The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-11-17

of his life in the prison, when the I'm
ftstions OF his place in the prison had
greatly depressed his spirits, he re-
membered how in bitterness he had ex-
claimed: of what profit shall his
place be to me? Every hope and every
ambition is stiied here"
Tut, tut" one Of the prisoners had
responded, who CHANGED to oyerhear
the remark, "the wise man makes Of
circumstances his teacher, and gathers
nuggets OF experience out OF the un-
promising present which the alchemy
Of the future will transmute into pure
gold"
The man who had thus spoken had
long since been recalled to his place
under the chamberlain TO the king, but
he had never forgotten the thought.
Like a fash he had realized that In
that uutoWaTd place-the prison-God
was training him for he knew not
what. A new interest was found IN
his duties, and he set himself earnest
ly TO learning all that he could. 1t
was the kings prison, the place where
those who had incurred the royal dis
pleasure were held, and during the
long year3 which Joseph had served in
the prison he came>in contact with
very many of the Wisest and most in
fiuential men Of the kingdom, and thus
had become yersed in the affairs Of
state as lie could not in any other
way.
And while the Hebrew slave shut in
the inner prison is busy with the mem
DRY Of the past and is waiting in sub
missiye obedience upon God, the king
in the palace is beside himself with
rage and disappointment. Even the
learned men from the great temple at
Thebes cannot tell the king the mean
ing Of his dream. The attendants and
courtiers of the palace move about in
CONSERVATION and fear.
The king sits sullen and alone. The
wise men and the magicians have gone
from his presence in disgrace, and
none dare approach him. The hour
has arrived when the cup bearer
should appear before his lord with the
customary draught of wine, but he
fingers tremblingly on the outer por-
tails Of the royal apartments. He is
filed with fear, and is perplexed to
know what to do. His mind goes back
to the time before when he had in
cured the kings d~ispleasure, and he
fears it will not fare as well with him
again as it did then. He thinks of the
days of anxiety speut in prison, and of
the young man there VINO had told him
his dream. He starts up, almost dash
ing the golden goblet to the hard pave
ment at his feet, Fool that he had
been, why had he 80 completely forgot
ten? Could not the young man who
told the meaning Of his dream and that
Of the chief baker, also tell Pharaoh
the Interpretation of his dream?
Boldly entering the royal presence,
and %undaunted by the %ungraCious' man.
ner of Pharaoh he eagerly told him
his story. And while the palace
was beginning to pulsate with the new
hope, the prison was thrown into a
fever of excitement. The %thunderous
knock of the impatient messenger
awoke every echo in the bare place.
Joseph, aroused by the imperious sum-
mons, appeared before the keeper OF
the prison at the same moment that
he opened the outer door and admit.
ted the messenger.
SIS there a young Hebrew here
named Joseph" he exclaimed, breath
lessly, and then without pausing fol
answer, he continued: Pharaoh
would see him"
The keeper, whose establishment at
the strange summons rendered him
speeches., could only point to Joseph
who 10Y stepped forward and quietly
said:
81 am he"
Come, then. The king waits"
Deft attendants were awaiting their
arrival at the palace to prepare Joseph
for his presentation before Pharaoh,
and after the priests had shaved an
bathed him and anointed him and
!. dressed him in fresh linen robes, he
was led into the royal audience room
1t was plain to see that the king was
pleased with the appearance of Joseph
He noted the noble face, the frank
/, deep eye, the calm dignity, and felt in
stinctirely that he would not be dis
!, appointed in him. Piunging at oncs
into the matter that was uppermosI
upon his heart, he said:
, Il have dreamed a dream, and there
, is mont that can interpret it; and
have heard say Of thee, that thou canst
4 understand a dream to interpret it."
{ May" spoke up Joseph, modestly
!, not willing that the king should
ascribe to him powers which belonged
1 only to God, "it is not in me-"
| A look Of disappointment flashed
across the face of Pharaoh, and he wa.
$ about to speak when Joseph continued
{ earnestly, while he pointed toward.
Heaven:
God shall give Pharaoh an answer
4 of peace"
s And then he listened thoughtful,
t while the king related his dream o
the seven good kline and the seven ill
favored kline, and Of the seven goot
ears, and the seven blasted ears, an,
g having given the Interpretation there
of, the cou~ntenance of Pharaoh wa