lord and ruler over all the land of
Egypt--next only to the king in power.

But although Joseph's outside life was changed, he himself remained
just the same. He was as keen as ever on doing his best, as brave and
fearless in serving God and the king, as wise in ruling as he had been
in serving.

So when the years of famine came there were great stores of corn laid
up to feed the Egyptians, and not only the people of Egypt, but
strangers from other lands came to Joseph, the Ruler, to buy food.

[Illustration: He felt at once that Joseph was a man to be trusted.]

Then it was that one day ten tired, travel-stained men arrived at the
city, saying they had come from the far-distant land of Canaan to buy
corn for their wives and families, who were starving.

Joseph knew them at once. They were his ten brothers--those brothers
whom he had last seen when, as a helpless boy, he had knelt and begged
them for mercy. Now they came kneeling to the great ruler, little
dreaming that this powerful prince was the young brother they had
betrayed and sold into slavery.

And Joseph did not mean to tell them just yet. He pretended to take
them for spies, and he spoke roughly to them.

"Thy servants are no spies," the brothers answered humbly. "We are the
sons of one man, in the land of Canaan, and, behold, the youngest is
this day with our father, and one is not."

Even then Joseph pretended that he did not believe them. No, they must
first prove their words by bringing their youngest brother to him.
They might leave one of their number behind as a hostage, and take
corn for their families, and return to fetch their brother. This he
said because he longed to see Benjamin again.

The men listened sadly to what the great man said. They must have the
corn or their families would starve. And yet how could they leave one
of their brothers behind when they knew their father would never allow
Benjamin to return with them.

"This is just what we deserve," they said to one another. "We would
not listen to Joseph when he begged for mercy, and now this is our
punishment."

"Did I not beg you not to hurt the child?" said Reuben.

They did not know, of course, that the great ruler could understand
what they were saying in their own language; but as Joseph listened
he was obliged to turn away to hide the tears that were in his eyes.

[Illustration: Lord and ruler over all the land of Egypt.]

There was nothing for it but to agree to th