Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1905-12-14


SPEAK
we must be true to the God OF our
father he said. slowly. inwardly
conscious that this was the first and
all-inportant question to decide
And In that determination. stand
with thee. my brother But what of
the body OF our father7 Its presence
with Us IS a sacred pledge that God
will visit us aud fulfill His promises.
We may not leave il to the hatred and
passion OF our grandfather
ut should not rest in the tomhs
OF Egypt, but in the midst Of orr
brethren in the land Of Goshen. II Is
there that God will visit US. and 1t Is
from thence that ve will 20 up"
'Dost thou remember the cavern near
our Grandfather Jacobs house. In
Goshen7~ exclaimed Ephrsim. the sud
den inspiration of the thought light
ing up his face with a new hope. The
answering CLEAN in his brothers face
told him that the memory OF the place
they had discovered as boys when Wis
iting In Goshen was still fresh and
vivid. and he FASTENED on to say. let
ting his voice drop almost to a whis-
per. lest some servant passing through
the adjacent halls should hear his
words:
Let US take the coffin OF our father
thither. The place is not known to the
Egyptians. II will be safe there" And
then as his heart grew confident In the
thought. he added: Surely, God will
help rs in this thing
But how can il be dore?" asked
Manasseh. doubtfully.
Thou art indeed slow. nv brother"
responded Ephrsim. with calm assur.
ance Doth not our fathers breth-
rem return home this night, They
shall bear with them our fathers body.
while We remain In the chamber OF the
dead as though We would watch and
mourn BY the side Of our dead. and ere
the morning light and the return Of
our Grandfather Potipherah, the coffin
will be safely resting in the shelter Of
that secret place
Thou hast spoken wisely" warm
" responded the elder brother. in ad-
miration. Let us at once acquaint
our brethren with our plans"
And while the brothers were pre-
pairing to carry out their plans for the
preservation of Joseph's body In full
illment of their pledge to him. the old
priest Of the temple was not idle. He
visited the king and won his reluctant
consent to his plans. assuring him that
he was confident that the sons Of Jo-
seph would yield before the dreadful
alternative. And then having informed
the attendants of the temple that Eph-
rain and Manasseh were to be admit
ted to his presence at any hour Of the
night they might come, he waited ex-
pectantly.
waited in the temple and his grand
sons came not. his assurance gave
place TO doubt and doubt to anxiety,
and at last. unable 70 stand the sus-
pense longer. he passed out OF the
temple courts and turned his feet to-
wards Joseph's house. He would make
one last appeal They must yield He
must save his own flesh and blood to
Egypt and Egypts gods.
rs he turned into the road leading 70
Joseph's house he encountered a good
ly company Of people. Their laden
eamels and asses and their carts all
told OF the journey which was Just be-
ing taken up. Curious 20 know who
could be passing out Of the city at that
hour Of the night. for II was now near
srf'inisAs. he accosted one ~ the men
as he passed:
What. Joseph's brethren be mutt
tered 10 himself. as he continued on
his war. 1T Is we'll: for now will
Ephraim and Nanasseh Be free from
their baneful influence. But their 60
ing at this hour Of the night seems
strange" he unused, As he reached the
house and entered To his inquiry for
Nanasseh and Ephraim. he was told
thar they were watching BY the side
of their dead and wished not 10 be dis
turbsd.
lis we'll the Old priest thought,
as he settled himself upon one OF the
comfortable touches in the great recep-
tion hall The departure Of the
brothers and the presence Of my grand
sons by the side OF the sacred dead
ausurs good Doubtless the brothers
departed in anger, for had il not been
so they would have remained to coun-
sci with and help Manasseh and Eph-
RAIN The boys will yield. I feel as
sured." and thus eomforted and cheered
Potipherah prepared to wait. giving
instructions to the servant to inform
his grandsons Of his presence as soon
as they should appear.
And that was the last he remembered
until he awoke to find the sunlight
streaming across the marble floor. In
surprise and alarm, he jumped to his
feet and it was some minutes before
he could collect his thoughts and re-
member how he came there and for
what purpose. He recalled his threat
made the night before, that ere the
light of the sun had again fallen upon
Egypt Joseph's bones would be dis
honored il his sons did not turn to the
gods Of the Egyptians. For some min
utes he watched spellbound the beam
OF light playing upon the floor. IL
seemed to him IL was uaoekInx him.
and dancing in delight ar his confu-
sion.
AT last rousing himself he turra,,