grateful for the love and care shown them by their parents, and try to be a joy to them? Ask yourself if you have ever vexed, irritated, or grieved your parents, and resolve that, for the future, you will be a joy to them by your obedience and diligence. And do not forget to pray every day for them.
Joseph’s brethren scoffed at him as a dreamer. Do you not often tease your brothers and sisters or companions, and give them abusive names? You must not let this bad habit take possession of you, for you do not like others to give you such names. Do unto others as you would they should do to you!
Chapter XIX.
JOSEPH IN THE HOUSE OF PUTIPHAR.
[Gen. 39, 1 — 20. Ps. 104, 17 — 22.]
ON arriving in Egypt, the merchants sold Joseph to Putiphar, the captain of the royal guard And the Lord was with Joseph, blessing him in all he did; wherefore he found favour with his master, who gave him charge of all his household [1]. And the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian, for Joseph’s sake, and multiplied his riches. But, after some time, Joseph was severely tried in his new home. The wife of Putiphar urged him to commit a most grievous sin. But Joseph would not consent, and said: “Behold, my master hath delivered all things to me. How, then, can I do this wicked thing, and sin against my God?” But even this decided refusal did not prevent the wicked woman from renewing her attacks on Joseph’s virtue, and every day she importuned him[2] anew. But Joseph would not listen to her.
Now, it so happened that Joseph was, one day, alone in the house, attending to some business, when the woman took hold of the skirt of his cloak, and renewed her shameful proposal. But Joseph fled, leaving his cloak in her hands. The woman, seeing herself thus slighted, began to hate Joseph and to falsely denounce him to all the household and to her husband on his return saying: “The Hebrew servant whom thou hast brought, came to me to
