of Egypt, not only saved from death by starvation his family,
including those same brothers who had wronged him, but even effected a
complete reconciliation with them and nobly forgave them.

Now, the most notable facts in connection with this story are those
"between the lines." It is not merely that such and such events are
said to have happened, but that for generations, perhaps centuries,
Hebrew fathers and mothers kept the story of these events alive,
telling it over and over again to their children. On numberless days,
no doubt, in this shepherd life there were bickering and angry words
among the children by the spring or at meal time, or in their games.
The older brothers were tyrannical toward the younger, or one or
another cherished black and unforgiving looks toward a brother or
sister who he thought had done him a wrong. And many a time after such
a day the old father would gather all the family together in the
evening around the camp fire in front of the tent and would begin to
tell the story of Joseph. And as the tale went on, with its thrilling
episodes, and its touches of pathos leading up at last to the
whole-souled generosity and the sweet human tenderness of Joseph, many
a little heart softened, and in the darkness many a little brown hand
sought a brother's hand in loving reconciliation.

=The tribe as a larger family.=--To some extent the desert shepherds
of all ages have carried this family spirit into the relations between
members of the tribe as a whole. Since they had to stand together for
protection, quarrels between tribesmen were discouraged. Moreover,
they were not separated into classes by difference of wealth. There
were some who had larger flocks than others, but for the most part all
members of the tribe were equal. Even from among the slaves who were
captured now and then in war there were some who rose to positions of