Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-05


Of her father, Potipherah, TIL
priest of On, when he had pressed
her 70: decision, she had promised
that lie should have a final answer
that day. and as she awaited his com
ing the mother nervously toyed with
the golden circlets about her wrists
and Wondered what her father would
say.
She knew he was anxious, yea de-
termined, that his two grandsons
should follow him in the priestly pro
fesslon, and he expected her to decide
the matter for them but she under
stood her boys and the temperament
OF her husband too we'll to attempt
anything of the kind, much as her
natural sympathies and inbred convic-
lions prompted.
But counter influences had been
at work upon their lives. They idol
lied their father, and his thought and
conduct had the greatest weight with
them. He had told them of the God
of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob He
had told them the stories of God
dealings with the Hebrew people, and
of the promises which had been given
to them. And when the old man ia
cob, their grandfather, had told them
the stories over and over again they
had come to know them by heart, and
unconsciously to themselves they were
being greatly influenced by them
But if ever any doubts had come in
to their minds in regard to the gods
of the Egyptians they never spoke of
them TO their mother, but somehow,
insJinctively, she felt uncertain as to
just what decision the boys would
make now that they were face to face
with the all-important question More
than once she had been upon the point
of pleading with them to pledge them
selves to the priesthood, when some
thing held her back and told her that
it would be better to wait and let her
father breach the matter to them.
And so she had waited.
LET me call the boys and you speak
10 them at once" she said to her faith
er after his arrival and she had ex-
planned all to him. Il am sure your
words will have great weight with
them"
1t was IGain TO, see that Potipherah
was disappointed, an1 he sat some
minutes in silence.
NO" at last he said ''if the decis-
Ion of this matter must be left to the
boys il were better, think, that they
yfoff IL
rounded by the sacred tokens of our
religion and under the very shadow of
OSIRIS presence, | shall be in better
mood TO press my plea. and il will be
easier for them to choose"
Very we'll" responded Asenath,
but cannot help feeling that 1t
would be wiser to see them now. Might
ii not he that l could reinforce thy
words and help Manasseh and Ephra-
i'm to a decision?"
Nay, my daughter, the temple is
the place for me TO speak to the boys,
but you may plead with them before
they come; yea, charge thee to do
this thing which thou hast already
neglected too long shall expect the
boys this afternoon" he added. as he
took Lis departure.
AS soon as her father had gone Ase-
nath called her boys TO her and frank
ly told them all that was i'm her heart,
and the desire of their grandfather,
the priest of On, that they should en-
ter the sacred and powerful calling OF
the priesthood.
'-He will be waiting you In the in
ner court of the temple this afternoon
for your answer, and L am sure that
my boys, in whose veins the blood of
the priestly caste flows. will be true &c
the ancient religion OF the Egyptians.
The boys were silent for some few
minutes. seemingly deeply impressed
with their mothers words. Then
Ephrain. the keener and more
thoughtful of the two. Notwithstanding
he was the younger, looked up with
troubled expression on his face and
asked:
but what of the God of our father
Joseph? Is He not a mighty God?"
1T may be So" replied the mother.
impatiently, ''bat He is as nothing be-
fore the great gods OF the Egyptians.
Remember what they have done, for
thy country and thy people"
But the gods of the Egyptians
could not reveal to the king his dream.
but the God of our father Joseph was
able so to do. and we know that all
came 70 pass as He said" persisted the
boy.
Enough" sharply rejoined the moth
er, "thy grandfather will be abe to
make all these things clear to thee. Is
he MOI older and wiser than thy faith
err? Is not the learning and wisdom of
the world within the keeping of the
priests of the temple? Seek them.
Hear them. Obey and follow them"