e conditions, so it was
decided that Simeon should be left behind, and the order was given
that all the sacks should be filled with corn, and that every man's
ass should be laden with as much corn as could be carried; only,
instead of taking money for the corn, Joseph ordered that it should be
secretly hidden in the sacks, each man's money in his sack of corn.

So the men started off on their journey home, and travelling all day
came at night to an inn to rest. There one of the men opened his sack
to give his ass some food. What, then, was his surprise to find his
bundle of money tied up in the mouth of his sack!

The other brothers gathered round and looked on in amazement. Yes, it
was quite true. There was the money which was the price of the
corn--not a penny of it taken! What could it mean?

But they were still more amazed when at last they came to their
journey's end and found, when they opened their sacks, that all their
money had been returned. There was a bundle of money in each sack!

It was so strange that they grew uneasy and frightened. Then, too,
they were obliged to tell their father that Simeon had been left
behind as a hostage, and that the great lord of the country had taken
them for spies, and had demanded that Benjamin should return with them
before he would believe their story.

But Jacob would not hear of parting with his youngest son. Had he not
lost two sons already, first his beloved Joseph, and now Simeon?

"Will you also take Benjamin from me?" he asked. "All these things are
against me!"

In vain Reuben promised that he would bring Benjamin safely back.
Jacob only shook his head.

"My son shall not go down with you," he said. "His brother is dead,
and he is left alone. If mischief befall him by the way in the which
ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the
grave!"

[Illustration: There was the money which was the price of the corn.]

Now that was all very well while the corn lasted; but when the famine
still went on, and all the corn was eaten up, there was nothing to be
done but to go back to Egypt and try to buy some more.

And it was no use going without Benjamin, for had not the great lord
of the country declared, "Ye shall not see my face except your brother
be with you."

So at last Jacob was obliged to let his precious son go with his
brothers, although it almost broke his heart to part with him.

Now Joseph had been quite sure that his brothers wo