The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-24
Try WILLIAM T. ELLIs)

haunted by the spectre OF trouoie'
which never appear? This chapter u
the romantic story of Joseph 10 i0'
+ben Here we have dramauc les
cor in optimism. The fate Whlch lei
characters in the tale DREADED wa
really their good fortune. They saw
as evil. through eyes OF tear d 'ii''
which was only and wholly gooo.
The setting of the story is easily re
called Joseph was next to Pharaoh
the supreme ruler and admlnlslrd'p'
of Egypt Famine was herce through,
out the country, and the auJdceI'
lands Jacobs ten sons had come doNT
for grain and had been sent hont-
with laden donkeys, but the ruIei
had held Simeon as a hostage Tor Li't
presence of Benjamin on the next Tip
Joseph, who did not make hliiieeii
known to his brethren wanted TO see
his own blood brother. Jacob refuscu
~ Ie+ the sons go again for grain untll
Irnnerative need drove them torth'
Then. with wailings. he allowed Ben
iamin to depart for the sake OF the sei J.
walton of the family. judah pleogeu
that he would be sNonser TOT tie
youngest child and his safe return
The Making of Family.
,,a,1 families are made new over the
CONN of A mother or father, who IN
death has accomplished what in ute
could not be done. Strife and bitter
ness and division are healed IN al
versity. Trouble proves a man
friend; and it also shows the WISDOM
of the proverb that a protner Is ooi II
for adversely"
The family of Jacob came to n new
dignity and nobility in the trying eX-
perience of the famine. Danger anu
difficulty and sorrow matured them AT
Simeon's offer of himself as hostage for
BENJAMIN was a noble deed. judah
dignified pledge of his own life for me
return of Benjamin was manhood 1T
its best We find each ready to NIL ms
part of service or sacrifice for the well
fare of the whole family. the old
rivaIries had disappeared. 1t had come
to be all for each. and each for all.
Hardship did it's ancient work with
Jacobs family, in educating them INTO
an understanding Of the pricelessness
of blood relationship.
The Ties That Are Strongest.
Sentimental school girls, and older
persons of about the same intellectual
development talk airily of ''affinities"
and of their superiority to their own
kin 1t is a darling belief of every i'm
mature person that his family entirely
misunderstanding him. One of the pa
thetic aspects of our American life is
the number of our men and women
who are going home from college to the
families who. at the cost of great sac
rifice have given them their education,
and showing themselves at every point
out of sympathy with the old home
folks This is a cup of bitterness that
many a father and mother has drained.
The present story is a lesson in great
truth that there are no ties like the
ties of blood. In the end, after all ones
fair weather friends have fallen aside,
st is ones own family who stand by
to the end. Cheap cynicism is fond of
saving God gives US our relatives.
but we can choose our friends The
truth is that God does give us our
relatives: they are His thought for US.
Into our own family we have been born
because it is best for our growth. De-
spite the decisions of immaturity,
worldly prosperity brings US no friends
quite so true and devoted as those
whom God gave us at birth. In all his
regal estate in Egypt, Joseph had no
body who meant to him so much as
the old family back in Canaan. Home
ties last.
The Spectre That Never Came.
Little dreaming that the judge they
feared was their brother, the ten sons
of Jacob went down to Egypt again.
Their attitude and actions We're those
of scared men. They thought they
would be called robbers. They expect
ed Imprisonment, and punishment
When they found a special reception
prepared for them, it confirmed their
fears and increased their panic. They
were expecting to meet disaster around
the next corner, a state of mind that
has not yet gone out of fashion.
Like most of the troubles that men
fear, this one never appeared to Jac-
obs sons. Instead of difficulties, they
found themselves welcomed by this
mysterious potentate, who had shown
such strange interest in them before
They were received as honored guests
1t was bewildering and disconcerting to
~fn f1sA4I crI1t Ent
were too good to be true
The Call of the Blood
This was a great hour for Joseph
Only the exile in a foreign land can
know the sweetness of familiar face
The wealth of Egypt and its honors
had no power to compensate him for
the loss of those who were dearest to
him on earth. How the advent of his
brothers. and especially of the only
other son of his mother affected him
is best told in the words of the in
spired record:
And he asked them of their well
fare and said. Is your father we'll
the old man of whom We spake? Is
he yet alive?
And they said. Thy servant our
father is well, who is yet alive And
they bowed the head, and made obeis-
anoc- And he lifted up his eyes. and
saw Benjamin his brother. his moth
er's son, and said. Is this your Young
est brother. of whom We spal1e unto me?
And he said, God be gracious unto thee
my son. And Joseph made haste: for
his heart yearned over his brother;
and he sought where to weep: and he
entered into his chamber, and wept
there
The Family Feast and Its Secret.
All unknown to the guests the
elaborate feast prepared for them was
q family gathering. and the greatest
day of their lives They were So busv
worrying over what might happen that
they could not recognize the blessing in
front of their faces Even the signif
canoe of the fact that they were Sea I'D