The Tupelo journal., 1905-11-10

VSF 1 ~as s sTiasnt that at
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, I 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 sheer and angry shake of the
head.
He'll surely be hanged" spoke up
another.
Hush, 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 a 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 step
firm and the face, though drawn and
tense, had upon it no lines of fear
or cringing subserviency. The manly,
dignified bearing, the s~elf-contained
poise of the head, the earnest open
countenance, the frank eyes looking
out straight before them were all
noted by the curious, unsympathetic
crowds as he passed, and the taunts
of derision and jeers of contempt died
away on their lips. And while they
were 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 such
a faithful servant, and that all my
business had p%rospered in his hands,
I would order his execution at once"
Potiphar exclaimed. as he paced Up
and down in the Offices of the keeper
Of the prison.
1t could be seen that he wa deeply
agitated. He was angry with Joseph,
but it was quite apparent that he felt
keenly the downfall of so valued a
slave. Turning suddenly upon the
keeper, he continued:
See what thou canst do with him.
If he will but confess his guilt and
express repentance l will restore him
his place. But plead and threaten
as I will I can wiring from him no
word or look that would condemn
him. He stubbornly maintains his in
nocence Deal harshly with Kim. 1t
may be he will consider the folly of
his ways"
THE keeper of the prison bowed his
acceptance of the commission, and
Potiphar 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 it pay to do
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, if it must be won by wrong
doing. Virtue is her W reward,
after all, and the clean heart and life
kept so by firm purpose in the face
of sore temptation possess an 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 the trials of the days
which followed. The keeper of the
prison was first exasperated, 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 brighten 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
IRENE measures. If Joseph would not
admit his guilt he should hang, and
in order to impress him with the
awfulness of the penalty which threat
ened him, it was arranged that he
| should witness the execution of of
the kings servants who had incurred
the royal d~isfavor and was to be
hanged. The day before the sentence
was to be carried out the condemned
man was placed in the dungeon with
| Joseph, the keeper reasoning that the
terror and apprehension of the man
would SO work upon Joseph's nerves
as to make the latter break down
when he. too, should stand IN the