invitation, but still no voice was heard. He rent his garments, tore his hair, and roamed about the brink of the pit in the greatest anguish of soul, almost to throw himself down into it and die with his lost brother. At last, having spent himself to no purpose, he called Joseph's last dream to remembrance, and dreaded its being literally fulfiled. Then he thought again, can my brethren have treacherously murdered him in the absence of his friend. O false and dreadful brethren! cruel and bloody men! to shed the blood of the innocent, contrary to solemn contract. Racked with despair and glowing resentment, he reasoned within himself, whether it were not best to rush upon his brethren and plunge his dagger in each of their hearts, one by one, till he himself, should perish upon the points of their swords. In one minute he was fully bent upon the bloody purpose, in the next, the horrors of an agonizing parent expiring over his murdered family, pierced him to the heart. Then he cried, "O my father, my fa ther, how wretchedly am I deceived! I thought to have been happy in making some atonement for my past guilt, by delivering thy darling from his mur derous brethren, and restoring him safe to thy fond embrace. But ah! I am deceived! Joseph is lost! irretrievably lost! And what sorrows will wring the heart of my parent, when he learns that Joseph is no more. O my Joseph! gladly would I revenge thy blood upon thy murderers. But alas! the loss of one is more than enough for a tender parent to bear. How would his aged heart sink under the carnage which this arm would make, should I give scope to my just revenge! But O my father, my father! for thy sake I live, and leave it to God to avenge the death of thy son." So saying, he went up to his bre thren, grief and resentment sparkling in his eyes.

"False men, where is the lad? Where is Joseph? Could you not withhold your bloody hand from him for one night, that the unhappy youth might have had time to pour out his heart unto his God? But alas! he is gone! and I, whither shall I fly? How shall

I answer to his father for his untimely death? What agonies must the good man feel when he hears that Joseph is no more? O my father! O Joseph! my poor Joseph" So saying, his over-swelled heart breaks forth in gushing sorrow, which trickled down his manly cheeks like chrystal waters from the diamond rock. But surely never did tears better become the masculine countenance than now! Such was the anguish of Reuben's spirit, that like a contagion, his grief reached the hearts of his brethren; and even Simeon himself, felt, for a moment, something like remorse. A solemn silence reigned in the whole assembly.

Judah at last broke through the gloom that covered them, and addressed Reuben. "My brother, permit your sorrow to subside, suffer your reason to supersede your passion, and coolly hear what I have to offer. I am now thoroughly convinced that what we have done is wrong, notwithstanding Joseph is yet alive." Reuben quickly replied, "If he lives let me set my eyes upon him that my heart may be at rest." "Alas!" said Judah," though he lives, I cannot present him to you. For I, even I, to save his life, advised to sell him to some Midianitish merchants, who passed by here in your absence. This is done and cannot be undone, or it should. And I am now more convinced than ever, that he will live to see his dreams fulfilled, and his brethren to bow down unto him. Yes, my brethren, his last night's dream has been amply verified, for it may be truly said, he fell into a pit of serpents, even in the house of his father. I feel within me some monitor telling me, that God who weighs the actions of men in an even balance, will visit and punish my having concurred in separating Joseph from his father and brethren, by the judicial death of my own children. O that it was undone again, and that we had it in our power to restore him to his father."

All the brethren heartily concurred in Judah's sentiments, Simeon alone excepted. "For his part," he said all that he grieved at was, that they had

suffered him to escape, and leave him within the pos sibility of superiority. When we had him," said he," It was madness to let him go." "I would not for the world," said the rest of his brethren, " Simeon, that it had been as you would have wished it." But Reuben, flew from his place like lightning, and would instantly have killed Simeon; but that Naphtali, who perceived from his countenance, the effect that Simeon's sanguinary speech had made upon his heart, arose with the swiftness of a hind; caught his elder brother by the arm, and begged for Jacob's sake, that he would moderate his passion. Again composed, the brethren consult how they may strive to regain their lost brother. It was agreed to send out messengers early in the morning, to overtake the Ishmaelites, offer to Alvah the price given for Joseph, and as much more as might procure his release. This agreed upon, and messengers appointed for the negociation, they all retired to rest, every one with his servants to his separate tent. Reuben was just laid down, and striving to compose himself to rest, when a dazzling glory shone through all the tent, and a voice more than human called him by name, Reuben, Reuben, first born of Israel, hear my my words, and attend unto my speech. You mourn for Joseph, and not without cause, considering the occasion of his exile. But know this, that he is the peculiar care of his God, who is with him wherever he goes, and who will make whatever he does to prosper. He shall find a friend, a father and brethren in a strange land, where he shall dwell securely, till his brethren unknown to themselves, shall bow down unto him with the humblest supplications. For Joseph shall be found. Thine arms shall yet embrace him, Reuben. And the whole world shall know him as the nursing father of the chosen race. Meanwhile, secure thine own life, Reuben, by concealing the matter from hoary Israel, lest the rage of thy brethren mix thee untimely with the dust; for some of them are old in bloodshed, and shudder not at hu

man carnage. Observe my words and all shall be well."

As Phoebus approached the north east verge of this dusky world, and fair Aurora purpled the sky, the messengers set out by different ways to overtake the caravan: they roamed through howling wastes and sandy desarts to no purpose, till spent with the fatigue of the day; they returned faint and weary on the ensuing night, to their brethren at Dothan. Every countenance discovered disgust and sorrow; even Simeon could have wished for Joseph's return, Reuben alone maintained a placid countenance, to the surprize of all his brethren, who saw his rage and despair so suddenly turned into calm serenity. He said, "Come my brethren, let us leave off caring for Joseph. The pious youth is the care of his God, who will never forsake the needy in their affliction. Let us concert some measures to support our good old father under the heavy weight of affliction, just falling upon his venerable head. O Jacob! revered old man, my heart bleeds for thee. A tide of sorrow will soon overwhelm thee. But thou hast the promise, and thy God is thine. May he indeed be near to thee.'

"Matters being as they are " said Asher, "I hold it good that we kill a kid or a lamb, take Joseph's many coloured coat, rend it in divers places, and smear it with the blood of the slain beast, and send it to our father, who will naturally conclude, that some hungry lion has devoured him, and we his sons shall be freed from all suspicion. We are necessi tated either to confess the fact, or cover it over with dissimulation. If we do the former, we draw down the curse of our father upon us, and there is at least a strong probability, that by the latter we shall retain his love and confidence: though God knows we little deserve it."

The advice given by Asher, was immediately approved, and Simeon and Levi, were appointed the messengers to carry the coat unto Jacob, all the rest being unable to bear the sorrow of their parent upon

this mournful occasion. How nearly allied is one sin to another? The sons of Jacob have now no covering for their infamy, but lying and dissimulation. "Welcome my sons, welcome Simeon and Levi," says the tender patriarch, "how do all your brethren, my children, and how does Joseph ?" "Our brethren, Sir, are all well, but as for Joseph we have seen nothing of him." "Seen nothing of him!" replied he, " these five days are gone since I sent him forth to visit his brethren, and enquire after your health. I pray God, that my fears may be groundless. O that no harm may have befallen my boy!" "We would hope for the best, Sir, and yet we are not without fear about him ourselves, said they," seeing he is not at home. As we came along through the wilderness, we found a coat that somewhat resembles our brother's, but you will better judge of it when you see it. This, Sir, is the coat we found, see now whether it be thy son's coat or not. "Ah! it is my son's coat indeed. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces." He said, and the blood receding from his countenance, he sunk down into the chair, and could not for a long time be recovered from his fit. The household was alarmed. Benjamin and all his daughters flew to his assistance, and the general cry was: O our father! Our father! Our good father is dying. Dinah flew about the tent, tearing her hair in the utmost distraction, crying, "O my father, my father, would to God I had died in thy stead. What shall thy daughter, thy friendless Dinah do now? A dishonour to her race; now turned out into an inhospitable world, without the protection of a father. Wretched Dinah! Better thou hadst never been born Cursed be the son of Hamor. Cursed be he that glories in the destruction of a virgin." One of the female train chased his withered limbs, another rubbed his temples with odours, till at last life began to return. Fetching a deep sigh, his eyes wildly rolling, he asked," Where am I? What has been the matter my daughters? Why have ye disturbed me? I am now awakened