At first the brothers could scarcely believe their ears. Could this great lord really be their little brother Joseph? And could he really forgive them their cruelty?

Then Joseph put his arm round Benjamin's neck and kissed him, and afterwards kissed each of his other brothers, so that they began to feel that the wonderful story was real and not a mere dream.

There was no fear of famine for them now. Nothing in all the land was too good for the brothers of the great ruler, and ere long there were wagons and camels on their way to Canaan to fetch Jacob, the old father, and all the wives and children belonging to the ten brothers. They would all now share in Joseph's good fortune.

So Jacob's sorrow was turned into joy when the news was brought to him that Joseph was alive and was governor over all the land of Egypt.

It sounded almost like a magic tale, and at first Jacob could not believe it; but at last, when he saw the wagons and heard Joseph's own message to him, his heart was filled with joy and thankfulness.

"It is enough," he cried. "Joseph, my son, is yet alive; I will go and see him before I die."

It was a long journey for such an old man; but joy gave him strength to endure it, and at the end Joseph stood waiting to welcome him—Joseph the great ruler, clad in rich robes, living in princely state, whose word was law, and who held the highest honors in the land.

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