uld return, and
when at last they appeared he was overjoyed to see that Benjamin was
with them. He ordered a great feast to be made, and invited them all
to dine with him; but still he kept his secret, and they did not guess
who he was, although they could not help noticing that Benjamin was
singled out for special favor.

So their sacks were filled again with corn, and the brothers prepared
to set out joyfully on their return journey. Only this time Joseph had
ordered his servants to put his silver cup into Benjamin's sack.

The men had not gone far before they were overtaken by the great
ruler's servants, who accused them of stealing their lord's silver
cup. Of course they indignantly denied this; but when the baggage was
searched the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

Now indeed was their joy turned into blackest sorrow. They must go
back at once to try and explain matters to the lord of the land. But
would he listen to them?

At first Joseph pretended to be very angry, but as he listened to
their tale and heard how they dared not face their father without the
beloved youngest son, he saw that they had earned his forgiveness, and
he kept up the pretence no longer. Sending all the servants away he
held out his hands to his brothers, his eyes blinded with tears.

"I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt," he said. "Now,
therefore, be not grieved nor angry with yourselves that ye sold me
hither, for God did send me before you to preserve life."

At first the brothers could scarcely believe their ears. Could this
great lord really be their little brother Joseph? And could he really
forgive them their cruelty?

Then Joseph put his arm round Benjamin's neck and kissed him, and
afterwards kissed each of his other brothers, so that they began to
feel that the wonderful story was real and not a mere dream.

There was no fear of famine for them now. Nothing in all the land was
too good for the brothers of the great ruler, and ere long there were
wagons and camels on their way to Canaan to fetch Jacob, the old
father, and all the wives and children belonging to the ten brothers.
They would all now share in Joseph's good fortune.

So Jacob's sorrow was turned into joy when the news was brought to him
that Joseph was alive and was governor over all the land of Egypt.

It sounded almost like a magic tale, and at first Jacob could not
believe it; but at last, when he saw the wagons and heard Joseph's own
mess