Page:The Story of Joseph and His Brethren.djvu/56

Rh The morning after the feast they took their departure. Joseph had again given orders to put every man's money in his sack's mouth. But this time he commanded the steward to put his silver cup also into the sack's mouth of the youngest. Soon after their departure the steward was sent after them, to demand of them why they had rewarded evil for good, in taking the silver cup in which his lord drank, and indeed divined. They protested their innocence, but on searching their sacks, the cup was found in the sack of the youngest. Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. When Judah and his brethren were come into Joseph's house, they fell before him to the ground. When Joseph accused them of having done an evil deed, Judah addressed him, detailing the circumstances under which they appeared before him, entreating in conclusion to be allowed to take Benjamin's place as a bondman unto my lord, that the child might return to his father.

It may seem that these trials were not really necessary, since Joseph might have obtained