Potiphar, an officer of King Pharaoh, and a captain of the guard-that is, chief executioner. And God took care of Joseph, and he was given a place in Potiphar's house. And so well did he serve his master, that Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and placed all his goods in his care.

And from the time Joseph was made overseer in his house, the Lord blessed the Egyptian for Joseph's sake, and everything went well with him. So Joseph became a great favorite with his master, and he grew up to be a handsome man, with the look of Rachel, his mother.

But Potiphar's wife spoke ill of Joseph, and told her husband things that were not true. So Potiphar turned Joseph out of his house and had him shut up in prison. At first he was treated very harshly, but the keeper of the prison took a fancy to Joseph, who made himself so useful that he soon had charge of all the prisoners. Among them were the chief butler and the chief baker of the King of Egypt. They had done something to offend Pharaoh, and he sent them to Potiphar, who had them thrust into the prison where Joseph was. And Joseph waited on them, and spoke kindly to them. One night the butler and the baker had each a strange dream. And when Joseph went into their ward in the morning he found them looking very sad. And he asked them the cause of their sadness. They said to him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one to tell us the meaning of it.

Joseph said to them, Tell me your dreams, I pray you. And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph. He said, I saw a vine, and in the vine were three branches with buds on them; and blossoms shot forth, and the clusters brought forth ripe grapes. And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into the king's hand.

Joseph said to him, This is the meaning of your dream : The three branches are three days; and within three days shall Pharaoh put thee back in thy place, and thou shalt hand the king his cup and be his chief butler again. But think of me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh and bring me out of this house. For I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and have done nothing that they should put me in a dungeon.

Then the chief baker told his dream to Joseph. He said, In my dream I had three white baskets on my head. And in the uppermost basket were all manner of baked meats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket on my head. Joseph said to him, The meaning of your dream is this: The three baskets are three days. within three days shall Pharaoh hang thee on a tree, and the birds shall eat off

thy flesh.

And on the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthaay, he made a feast to all his servants. And he put the chief butler back in his place, and he was cup-bearer to the king once more. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had said he would. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, nor mention his name to the king. So Joseph still remained in the prison.

At the end of two years Pharaoh had a strange dream. He dreamed that he stood by the river Nile, and there came up out of the river seven sleek fat cows, and they went and fed in a meadow that was near.

And behold, seven other cows, lean and ugly, came up after them out of the Nile, and stood by the fat cows on the brink of the river. And the lean cows ate up the fat cows. then Pharaoh awoke.

And

Then he fell asleep again and had another dream. And behold, seven ears of corn came up on one stalk, plump and good. And seven thin ears that had been blasted by the east wind sprang up after them. And the seven thin ears ate up the seven round full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold it was a dream!

The king was greatly troubled, and he sent for all the magi

cians and wise men of Egypt, and told them his dream; and not one of them could tell the king what it meant. If they guessed the meaning they were too much afraid of the king to tell

him the truth.

Then the chief butler thought of Joseph, and told the king all about him, and where he could be found. And Pharaoh sent at once for Joseph. And they hurried him out of the

prison, and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he was taken before the king.

Pharaoh said to Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can explain it. I am told that when thou hearest a dream thou canst tell what it means.

Joseph said, It is not in me except God shall give me the power.

Then Pharaoh told his dream to Joseph just as he had dreamed it. And Joseph said, God hath showed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years. The dream is one. And the seven thin cows, and the seven empty ears blasted by the east wind, mean seven years of famine.

There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. And after them there will be seven years