Then Esau went home to his own house, which was a great way off; for Esau did not live in Canaan. But Jacob stayed in the land of Canaan, for he wished to live there.

You see that God had let Jacob come back to Canaan, as he had promised. Jacob did not forget the sweet dream I told you of. He went to that very place once more: he had made a heap of stones to mark the place; so he could find it again. There he built an altar, and offered sacrifices to God, who had been so kind to him. God had given him food and clothes, as he had promised and he had given him many more things besides; for God had given him wives and children, and servants and cattle; and God had made his brother kind to him, and had let him come back to Canaan. Jacob loved God very much, and thanked him for his kindness.

Has not God been very kind to you, my dear children? Tell me what things he has given. Can you think of ten or twelve things he has given you? Food, clothes, &c. &c. Sometimes people have been unkind to you, and God has made them grow kind. How much you ought to love

God!

The Lord who all things did create,
Doth still his wonders show;
See Esau's heart once filled with hate,
With sudden love o'erflow.

An humble staff poor Jacob bore,
When first he left the land;

But now behold his plenteous store,
And his sweet infant band.

Long since the voice of God he heard,
Foretelling days of peace;
Now God fulfils his gracious word,
And bids his troubles cease.

Let every knee before Him bow,
Who can all wonders do;

All hearts can change, all gifts bestow.
Make every word come true.

CHILD.

Sweet promises are made to me
If I serve God in truth;
Thy wonders great, O let me see,
Guide of my tender youth;

If any hate or wish me ill,

Lord fill their hearts with love,

And feed, and clothe, and bless me still ;-
Then waft my soul above.

CHAPTER XI.

JOSEPH, OR THE PIT.

Gen. xxxvii. 1-24.

JACOB saw his old father, Isaac, again; and then Isaac died, and Jacob and Esau buried him in that same cave where Abraham and Sarah had been put they will rise together at the last day:

for Isaac wished to live in a country that is better than Canaan, that is, in heaven.

Esau, you know did not live in the land of Canaan; but Jacob chose to live in Canaan, with his children and his cattle.

All the sons were grown up to be men, when Benjamin was still a little baby. Joseph was next youngest to Benjamin. He was a big boy, and he was the best of all the children. The ten eldest were wicked men. They used to take care of the sheep and goats; and when Joseph was with them, they grieved him by their wicked behaviour; they were also very unkind to him, and always spoke roughly to him. Jacob loved Joseph the best; and this made the others envious. They hated him, because he was the pet and the darling.

Jacob loved Joseph too much. He gave him a very pretty coat made of many colours, yellow, blue, green, pink, red, purple; and Joseph used to wear it.

It is Satan that makes people envious. We should pray to God to keep us from being envi

ous.

You will hear what wicked things these brothers did, because they were envious of dear, good Joseph.

One night Joseph had a very strange dream. He thought he was in a field of corn with all his brothers, and they were making up large bundles of corn, called sheaves. He thought that each of

his brothers made a sheaf, and that all his brothers' sheaves bowed down to his sheaf. Joseph thought this a very strange dream, and he told it to his brothers.

But when they heard it they were very angry, and said, "We suppose you mean that we shall bow down to you, though you are the youngest." And so they hated him more than they had done before.

Soon after Joseph had another strange dream. He thought he saw the sun, moon, and eleven stars in the sky, and that they bowed down to him. This dream was more strange than the other; and he told it to his father as well as to his brothers.

His father was surprised, and said, "Does the sun mean me, and the moon your mother, and the stars your brothers, and shall we bow down to you ?"

Yet Jacob thought that God had sent the dream to Joseph, and would make it come true; but the brothers were more and more angry.

Now Joseph's brethren had a great many sheep and goats to take care of: and there was not enough of grass for them all, round the tents; so they took their flocks a great way off, that they might eat fresh grass. Joseph staid at home with his old father; and Benjamin staid at home because he was quite a little child.

At last Jacob wished to know how his sons were; so he said to Joseph, "Go and see your

brothers, and come back and tell me how they are and how the flocks are.'

Joseph was always ready to do what his father wished so he set out on his way. He took no ass to ride upon, and no servant; but, putting on his pretty coat, he wished his dear father good-bye. He little thought how long it would be before he should see again that dear father's face.

Joseph went a great way, but could not find his brothers. At last a man saw him, and said, "Whom are you looking for?"

And Joseph answered, "I am looking for my brothers can you tell me where they are feeding their flocks?"

Then the man told him which way they were gone.

Joseph took a great deal of pains to find his brothers.

Now the brothers saw Joseph coming when he was very far off. They knew that it was Joseph : and they said to each other, "Here this dreamer comes, let us kill him, and throw him into a deep hole, and tell our father that a lion or a bear has eaten him up."

So when Joseph came up to them, they seized hold of him. He came to them full of love and kindness; but they looked fiercely upon him; and he was indeed like a gentle lamb in the midst of lions and tigers. He was like the Lord Jesus when the wicked Jews seized him in the garden.

The brothers were going to kill him, when one