The Tupelo journal., 1905-12-15

the body Of our father? It's presence
with us is a sacred pledge that God
will visit us and fulfill His promises.
We may not leave it to the hatred and
passion of our grandfather"
at should not rest in the tombs
Of Egypt, but in the midst of u
brethren in the land of Goshen. 1t is
there that God will visit us, and it is
from thence that we will go up"
"Dost thou remember the cavern near
our Grandfather Jacobs house, in
Goshen?" exclaimed Ephraim, 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 u father
thither. The place is not known to the
Egyptians. 1t will be safe there" And
then as his heart grew confident in the
thought, he added: Surely, God will
help us in this thing"
"But how can it be done?" asked
Manasseh, doubtfully.
"Thou art indeed slow, my brother"
responded Ephraim, 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 w 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
ly responded the elder brother, in adj
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
fillment 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.
The hours wore on. AS Potipherah
waited in the temple and his grand
sons came not, his assurance gave
place to doubt and doubt to anxiety,
and at last, unable to 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 Egypt's gods.
AS he turned into the road leading to
Joseph's house he encountered a good
ly company of people. Their laden
camels and asses and their carts all
told of the journey which was just be.
ing taken up. Curious to know who
could be passing out of the city at that
hour of the night, for it was now near
midnight. he accosted one of the men
as he passed:
what, Joseph's brethren" he NUT
tered to himself, as he continued on
his way. cit is well; for now will
Ephraim and Manasseh 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
Manasseh and Ephraim, he was told
that they were watching by the side
of their dead and wished not to be dis
turbed.
"'Tis WELL" the old priest thought,
as he settled himself upon one of the
comfortable touches in the great recep-
ton hall. 1.-The departure of the
brothers and the presence of my grand
sons by the side of the sacred dead
augurs good. Doubtless the brothers
departed in anger, for had it not been
so they would have remained 70 coun'
sci with and help Manasseh and Eph-
rain. The boys will yield, l feel as
sured,' and thus comforted 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 vas 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 if 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. It
seemed to him it was hooking him,
and dancing in delight at his confu.
sion.
At last rousing himself, he turned
toward the apartment where Ephraim
and Manasseh had kept their night
vigil, muttering to himself as he went.
He knocked and entered. No one ever
knew what t%ranspired within, but after
long time the aged priest emerged, and
as he turned from the door he was
heard to say over and over to him.