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

TsSsrS ering at the i'm
Es~TIWN%..S perial city Of SO
distinguished q
body Of men created a profound i'm
preston throughout the realm. Dis
cussion Of the unusual proceeding was
upon eyerybody's lips in the city, and
| when the aged priest from Thebes
and his retlnue of sages disembarked
from their barges, which had brought
them down the Nile as swiftly as the
best rivermen could bring them. the
excitement was at fever heat. With
silent awe The crowds watched the
stately procession as it proceeded to
the palace, Surely now the king would
obtain the counsel which he needed.
AS the procession neared the palace
the crowds of people became denser
and denser, for all were eager 10 catch
a glimpse of these men who knew the
secrets of the gods and could discern
the future. 1t was with increasing diff
fculty that the Egyptian officers
cleared a pathway, and at last Il be-
came necessary to use stern measures.
One fellow, more determined and in
luisitiye than the rest of the throng,
pushed and elbowed his way to the
front, and burst at last into the very
pathway which the policemen had sue
ceeded ia forcing. He was instantly
seized, and after a severe beating for
his temerity, was dragged off to the
prison. This incident was sufficient
warning to the crowd, and without
further trouble the palace was reached
and the wise men admitted to the
presence of the king, who since early
morning had been impatiently await
Ing their arrival.
In the meantime the unruly specta-
tor had been hurried to the city pris-
on, but it being full, ii was found nee
essary to take him to the kings pris-
on, where Joseph, the steward of the
Jail, entered the charges of the police
man upon the parchment and then
placed the prisoner in the inner dun
geon. The word or two which had
been dropped by the prisoner and the
policeman aroused the interest Of 10
seph, who up to the present time had
not heard of the excitement in the
palace, for save as prisoners came into
the Jail, bringing news, he had no
means Of knowing what was transplr-
ing in the outer world. As soon as
opportunity offered, therefore, he sum
moned the man to him and eagerly
questioned him further.
"And what think you is troubling
the king?" he asked.
There are many rumors atioat, but
the report which gains the largest
credence is that the king has had g
dream upon his bed which gives hin,
great anxiety, and Up to the coming
Of the wise men from Thebes, none
had been able to explain to the king
the meaning thereof"
Joseph's heart leaped within him as
the man mentioned dream, and, seek.
Ing the seclusion of his own quarters
he threw himself upon his face to thu
ground, and cried out in the anguish
II his soul:
"0h. God, does not the Interpretation
Of dreams belong unto Thee? Dds
not Thou give Thy servant wisdom t
tell the chief baker and the chief but
Ter the meaning of their dreams, anC
lid it not come to pass as Thy wore
said? Oh, Lord, let the chief butte,
speak favorably before the king at thi
lime of Thy servant. 1t may be tina
the Lord would give Pharaoh answe
% the q~uestionings of his heart"
And as Joseph lay there his mint
ran back over the long, weary month
which had dragged themselves on
since two full years before he ha,
urged the chief butler to remembe
him when he again served in the pres
, snce of Pharaoh. How expectantly h
had waited. Each day saw him look
Ing for deliverance from the drear,
prison, and in spite of the long de
terred hope, the deep-seated ~convic.io,
that God was yet going to bless an
help him still possessed him. Prompt
ly and faithfully, and wen cheerfully
each days duties had been performed
tor, said he, over ard over again t
himself:
Tomorrow, 1t may be, God wi
bring me out of this place. | will b
ready to depart"
Often the recollection OF his boy
hood dreams eame a a vague and pei
picking memory to him, but in spite Q
the discouragements and hardness {
his lot something always seemed I
say within him: God gave you tn
vision, Wait. He will bring 1t to pass,
And with all the strength of his pun
manhood he had determined to be tn