Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-05-30
WHEN GUILE
CONQUERED GOODNESS
The international Sunday School
Lesson for April q Is, 90
ssph Sold Into Egypt" Gen. 81.
by William T. Ellis.

Jig Otil Will OC tO0 tp6 ttS WI "
Joseph, the old testament tale which is so
dramatic tina IL Is now running in New
York city's largest theatef as a play.
Childhood counts the story a favorite. and
poet and philosopher find lifc's deepest les
sons in 1t.
The experiences of Joseph are full OF adj
venture and romance. and for the first
time in the Genesis narrative, the events
recorded concerning a bible character are
also related in secular history. Joseph is
q connecting link between the story of
the book and the story on the monuments.
His biography Is probably the greatest OF
the old testament stories. Every chapter
In 1t Is fraught with significance for to-
day.
Some Family Faults.
The eleventh son of his father, Joseph
was the first child of the beloved Rachel.
The children born of Leah and the con-
cubines had no such place In Jacobs heart
A. Joseph, the child of his love. He
showed his preference openly. and made
II clear to all the world by adjoining the
lad with a coat &c many %colors. a mark
Of honor. The first fault we charge up
against Jacob in this story is this display
Of favoritfsm. A parent offends against
his office as parent when he loves one
child above another. All children may not
be alike, but the parents duty is equal
toward all.
Az fruit follows flower, and as flower
follows seed, so jealousy follows favorit-
ism In the family of Jacob. Tt 10 older
brothers we're envious OF this son who was
the recipient of such special attentions
from their father. 1t is true that Joseph
may ave been a bit Of a prig, and his
tAle-bearing does not look well. although
It was probably only the guilelessness
that characterized him through these
early chapters Of the biography. Ger
tainly the son of Rachel was not of the
same timber and temperament as his
rough and ready, feld-trained older BROTH
era. with their queer notions Of justice and
support
a GDnt;Nsl Lad In 4 Rough Crowd.
There are more tragedies on the play
ground and In the school than ever find
their way into literature. No artist has
yet written an adequate portrayal Of the
torments and terrOrs OF the gentle-sOuled
youth Of fine grain whose lot 10 cast amid
rough, uncomprehending and unsympa-
thetic companions. To be called a molly
coddle' or a sissy Il the; least of the
soul burden which such a one bears.
These eptthsts are hut the crowds way
OF saying, you are different from u.s.
ana to be different from them is the sum
of all offending In the eyes of most folk.
Joseph suffered more than we know at
the hands of his brethren, long before he
began so tell them dreams. They could
not see any elements Of greatness in his
more sinsItive nature. or in his sweet ana
simple candor. We are reminded tbs
many men today are boasting that they
knew N boys certain distinguished per-
sons at whom in childhood they used to
scott. The tendency Of the crowd is to
pull az others 70 It's level.
The Candid Dreamer.
Guilelessness 10 . quality Of the virtue
Gus. but it Il not always q virtue. 1t 10
not necessAry to tell all that one knows
or thinks. J0seph's mistake wal not In
having the dreams-.'the thoughts OF
youth are long. long Lt~houghts'-but In
telling them to his uncomprehending and
tl-thinking brothers. A simple, ingenious
and generous soul himself, he was eager
to share with others everything that In
terested him. The lesson OF prudence and
Dubtlety would have to be learned in the
hard school Of life.
In the dreams that he ill-advisedly told
Joseph had seen II sheaves OF wheat bow
ing down to him. Later he saw the SUM-,
moon and II stars doing obeisance. OF
course the Interpretation lay ON the SUR
face. that he should be exalted above his
family and bear rule over them. It II
notable that the dream was respected by
AL who heard Il, little - they liked Il.
n little as><hey honored the dreamer
thesefor. All sigps Of superior worth are
resSAtedby Inferior people. I9noble minds
be more tolerant Ct those who do
wrong b OF those who do v~irtuously.
There q something In human nature that
Observation-Disclosures the Just,
Of course the 11snons OF Jacob could not
Be expected 70 perceive thnt@in cherishfne
the grievance against theft brother thew
go hut hurting thetr oWn characters,
nd8lu3pairlnG their own souls. whoever
0xetctees ho1pltnlity toward low Snd