Page:The Story of Joseph and His Brethren.djvu/15

Joseph was guilty of tale-telling, and that it would have been more gentle and generous of him to conceal his brothers' faults. But we must look at Joseph's motive. If he had told his brothers' faults from any ill-feeling towards them, or even for the mere love of reporting their misconduct, and bringing them into trouble, there might be cause for blaming him for what he did. Joseph's character forbids us to think that this was the case. He loved his brethren and desired their good; and he must have reported their conduct to his father, to make him aware of their evils, that he might use means for correcting and improving them. A brother may, therefore, show his love for his brethren by reporting their misconduct to his father, knowing that his father loves them, and only desires to know the misconduct of his children, that he may restrain them in their evil courses, and guide them in the path of virtue. Only, young people, in doing what Joseph did, must do it with a good end in view. Those who, like Joseph's brethren, go on in evil, besides doing serious injury to themselves, do serious injury to