I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?

I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?

GEN. xiv. 3.

The sons of Jacob, sinful men,

Stood before Egypt's lord;

And guilt and fear were working here,

Keen as a two edged sword,

Within their bosoms whilst they thought
Of what their bloody hands had wrought.

They thought of Joseph. Conscience told

A horrid, dreadful tale;

And thoughts of him in slavery sold

Made hardened wretches pale.

Ah, little thought those wretches how
Joseph was Egypt's ruler now.

That ruler seemed a myst'ry: he

Seemed cruel, harsh, unkind;

Their distresses seemed to be

Most pleasing to his mind.

Ah, how they plead in tones of grief
For favor - for a kind relief.

They tell him of their father, and

Of all his grief and tears;

How God, with overruling hand

Had stricken him years,

And took his fav'rite child away,
A victim to the beasts of prey.

Ah, nature thou cau'st ne'er deceive

And men may strive, in vain,

To make themselves indeed believe

That falsehood's ways are plain

Strike but the chord that nature owns,
The vilest wretch will heed its tones.

Joseph refrains no longer;

No more could act his part;

Nor can he longer seem to be

Unkind in word or heart.

"Yes, I am Joseph; case to grieve;
But tell me, does my father live?"

How could those wretches then but feel

The pangs of guilt and shame?

Nature then made her last appeal,

Whilst conscience did the same;

And they who sold that brother, now,
Before that brother, humbly bow.

D.

2:3, p. 12

1838.01.27

From the Vermont Watchman