of animals held sacred by the Egyptians; and the abhor rence of the latter for such a profanation would not permit them to sit at table with those who committed it.

But though offensive in this particular, the strangers were treated with extraordinary civility. Arranged carefully in the order of their birth, they received each a portion from the governor's table; but Benjamin's was five times the quantity of any of his brothers. This singular attention amazed them; but as they saw no immediate occasion of alarm, they enjoyed the present moment in feasting and mirth. Early the next morning they commenced their journey homeward laden with provisions as much as they could possibly carry. But scarcely had they lost sight of the city, when they were overtaken by the very steward who had seemed so studious of their comfort, and abruptly reproached with having returned evil for good, in that they had stolen the golden cup of his master! Confident in their innocence, and seeing only in this disgraceful charge some new oppression of their mysterious persecutor, they fearlessly inquired, how they who had brought back the money discovered in their sacks on the former occasion, which they might have concealed and retained, could now be suspected of an action they abhorred ? And to evince their indignant sincerity, they added, "let him die with whom the cup shall be found." The terms were accepted and the baggage immediately examined: beginning with Reuben's and descending to Benjamin, when, lo! in the sack of the latter the goblet was found.

FANNY. Alas! had he stolen it indeed?

MRS. M. O no-it was placed there secretly by Joseph's direction, who intended by these trials to bring them to a sense of their guilt. The conviction had seemed yet in

complete; but now overpowered entirely by the dreadful result of their own stipulation, they saw the hand of God taking vengeance for their brother's blood. In awful suspense they returned to the presence of Joseph, and prostrating themselves at his feet, they exclaimed, "what shall we speak, or how shall we clear ourselves! God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold we are my lord's servants, both we, and he with whom the cup is found."

"God forbid," returned he, " that I should do so; the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant, as for you, get you up to your father in peace."

This determination was the climax of their sufferings. To see the sorrow they had once wantonly brought upon their father by tearing from him his favourite, renewed in the loss of Benjamin, they could not endure. Judah, therefore, encouraged by the amiable deportment of Joseph, approached him, and deprecating his anger, he prayed to be heard. He then went on to rehearse with the simple eloquence of heart-felt grief, the whole history of their coming into Egypt. He painted the anguish of his father for the loss of Joseph, his best beloved child, his subsequent tenderness for Benjamin, the only remaining son of their mother, and his excessive unwillingness to trust him out of his sight. Nor did he forget indirectly to appeal to the generosity of the governor, by reminding him that the unhappy Israel would not have been brought into this dilemma but for his own rigid inquiry,—“ have ye yet a brother?" and his refusal to let them have corn except their younger brother came down. Suspecting no danger," he continued, " he had readily become the surety for his safety; and now that the liberty of Benjamin was thus

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inexplicably forfeited, he would pay the penalty in his stead, for he could not return and behold the anguish of his father."

This pathetic speech of Judah, not one word of which can be omitted without losing a significant expression, was admirably adapted to affect such a man as Joseph; his firmness was conquered the tide of tender emotions could no longer be restrained and hastily commanding every one except the culprits to leave the room, he exclaimed, "1 am Joseph-does my father yet live?" Amazement, joy, and shame overpowered his brethren. Silence, the most profound, could alone declare the tumultuous passions which mingled in their bosoms. He saw them unable to speak, and generously encouraged and comforted them— 66 Come near, I pray you, said he, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt; be not grieved therefore nor angry with yourselves that ye sold me hither, for God did send me before you to preserve life." And seeing them incredulous, and pitying their confusion, he continued to assure them," haste ye, go to my father and say to him, thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt; come down unto me, tarry not, and I will nourish thee, for there are yet five years of famine; thou shalt dwell in Goshen, with all that thou hast, lest thou come to poverty. Your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you; tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and all that ye have seen, and haste and bring down my father hither." The generous effort to relieve his troubled brothers was now exhausted. Language refused any longer her aid; but thorwing his arms around his beloved Benjamin, and by

turns embracing them all, tears, the natural eloquence of unutterable tenderness, expressed the rest.

Tranquillity and confidence by degrees succeeded these impassioned feelings, and they conversed affectionately together. In the mean while, the report of this unexpected meeting had gone abroad. The violence of Joseph's agitation had been overheard by his servants; every one rejoiced in the happiness of their benefactor; and Pharaoh himself, embracing every opportunity to testify his high regard for him, gave immediate command that carriages should be prepared to bring down the father of Joseph and h's whole family into Egypt. "Regard not your stuff,” said the generous prince," for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours."

Preparations were accordingly made, and the sons of Israel, laden with provisions and presents both for him and themselves, returned to their father with the tidings of Joseph's existence and elevation in Egypt.

FANNY. These tidings would be almost as insupportable as the former had been, though from an opposite

cause.

MRS. M. His feeble spirits fainted under the excess of surprise and joy, and only the evidence of the carriages provided by Joseph and the munificent monarch whom he served, to transport him with all that he had, could convince him that such great and unexpected blessings were his, "It is enough, (said he) Joseph, my son, is yet alive -I will go and see him before I die.”

FANNY. I suppose Israel intended to return to the land of promise and die there?

MRS. M. He might reasonably have cherished such a

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hope, because he had not yet attained, as he afterwards told Pharaoh, to the years of the life of his fathers: but he certainly knew that his posterity should return. Yet knowing also, that they should be afflicted in a land wherein they were strangers," this sudden removal of his whole family to a foreign country, was calculated to fill his mind with anxious reflections on the probable consequences of an event so remarkable. Penetrated too, with the profoundest gratitude for the marvellous recovery of his son, he stopt at Beer-sheba to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise.

At this memorable station, his fathers, both Abraham and Isaac, had received the homage of the king of the Philistines, because he saw that they were the favourites of heaven, and at his own request made treaties of friendship with them; and here the same Protector whose presence Abimelech had acknowledged, encouraged Israel to prosecute his journey without fear; for in Egypt He would make of him a great nation.

CATHERINE. Was this then the beginning of that bondage so famous in the history of the children of Israel? MRS. M. It was the beginning of that bondage predicted to Abraham, as the lot of his posterity, in these words: "They shall serve four hundred years, in a land that is not theirs ;" yet their residence in Egypt, commenced (B. C. 1706), under the most flattering auspices. They were met on the way by Joseph in his chariot, and in the arms of his long-lost son, the full soul of the happy father received the fruition of earthly bliss! "Let me now die," said he, " since I have seen thy face." When tears and embraces had relieved the unutterable feelings of both, Israel and five of his sons were conducted to the king.