The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-06-05
AFFRIGHTED BY
GOOD FORTUNE
The international sunday
School Lesson for May rs Is
"Jossph and Reniamin."--Gen.
Kill .."..'> ~.
BY William T. Ellis.



Who dare estimate the number of
persons who lie down every night
haunted by the spectre or troubles
which never appear? This chapter of
the romantic story Of Joseph is for
them. Here we have a dramatic les
son In optimism. The fate which 10
characters in the tale dreaded was
really their good fortune. They saw
as evil, through eyes of fear, that which
was only and wholly good. ' =
The setting of the story is easily re-
called. Joseph was next to Pharaoh,
the supreme ruler and administrator or
Egypt Famine was fierce through
out the country, and the adjacent
lands. Jacobs 10 sons had come down
for grain. and had been sent home
with laden donkeys. but the ruler had
held Simeon as a hostage for h pres
ence of Benjamin IN the next trip.
Joseph who did not make himself
known L his brethren. wanted to see
his own blood brother. Jacob refused
TO let the sons go again for grain until
imperative need drove them forth.
Then, with wailings, he allie wed Ben
jamin to depart for the sake ofNthe sal
walton of the family. Judah pledged
that he would be sponsor for the
youngest child and his safe return. n
The Making of q Family. K.
Many families are made rev over
the coffin of a mother or a father,
who in death has accomplished what
IN life could not be done. Strife and
bitterness n division are healed in
adversity. Trouble proves a mans
friend; and 1t also shows the wisdom
OF the proverb that "a brother IL born
for adversely" "
This family of Jacob, came 20 a new
dignity and nobility in the trying ex-
"a 49, H,,1.f,n nonorn ard
difficulty and sorrow matured them all.
Simeon's offer Of himself as hostage
for Benjamin vas a noble deed.
Judah's dignfsied pledge of his own life
for the return Of Benjamin was man
hood at its best. We find each ready
70 fill his part OF service or sacrifice
for the welfare of the whole family.
The old %rivalries had disappeared. It
had come to be AL for each. and each
for all" Hardship did its 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 h same intellectual
development talk airily OF 'afflnities"
and OF their superiority to their own
kin. 1t is a darling belief of every i'm
mature person that his family entirely
misunderstands him One OF the pa
thetic aspects of our American life Is
the number Of young men and women
who are going home from college to
the families who, at the cost Of great
sacrifice have given them their educa-
ton, ana showing themselves at every
point out OF sympathy with the old
home folks. This is a cup of bitter
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, ii is ones own family who
stand by TO the end, Cheap cynicisAn
tis fond OF saying, God gives US our
friends The truth is that God does
give US cur relatives; they are His
thought for us. Into our own family
we have been born because II is best
for our growth. Despite the delusions
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 nobody 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 10 sons
OF Jacob went down to Egypt again
Their attitude and actions were 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
1eRrs and Increased their nanic. They
were expectingto meet dlsastar arouno
The aaxt corner. q stare OF mind thai