"I dreamed," said Pharaoh, "that I stood beside a river. Seven fat kine came out from it and fed in the meadow. Soon seven more came out, thin and bad. Then the seven lean kine ate up the seven fat kine. "Then I awoke. But when I slept again, I dreamed that seven good ears of corn came out upon one stem. And soon after, seven more, thin and bad. And the seven bad ears ate up the seven good ears." "The dreams, great king," said Joseph, "mean this: There shall be seven years of great fruitfulness in the land. Then shall come seven years of famine. And the seven years of famine shall eat up all the fruitfulness of the first seven years. "Now let Pharaoh take warning. Let him hoard up all the corn that can be spared in these first seven years. Then, when the years of famine come, there will be corn for all who dwell in the land." Pharaoh was pleased with the wisdom of Joseph. He appointed him at once to have charge over the corn, and commanded the people to obey him in all that he bade them do. Then the king gave him a ring and a chain of gold to wear upon his neck. He dressed him in fine linen and made him a golden chariot. And the people loved Joseph and obeyed him. Then followed seven years of fruitfulness, such as even the fertile valley of Egypt had never known before; and the people hoarded their corn until their store houses were full to bursting. And when every house was full, then began the drought and famine; and no food grew for the people in all the seven years that followed. Great indeed might have been the suffering; for no rain came, no corn grew, and everywhere the people were crying to Joseph for food. And the famine spread even into the country of Canaan; and Joseph's own people were starving. [Illustration: JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN.] [Illustration] JOSEPH'S BROTHERS. The brothers of Joseph heard that in Egypt there was corn stored away in plenty; so they went down into Egypt to beg for it. They came before Joseph, and bowed low before him, even as in the vision so long ago it had been foretold that they would bow before him. "Who are you?" said Joseph; for he wished to try his brothers and see if they would speak the truth. "We are the sons of Jacob," said they; "and we are come from the land of Canaan." "Have you any other brothers?" asked Joseph. "We have one younger brother at home," they said. "How do I know if you speak truly? Go to your homes--I will give you corn--and bring to me your youngest brother. Meanwhile I will hold one of you here as prisoner until you return. Then shall I know if you are honest men." So the nine brothers went back to Canaan and told Jacob what had happened; but they did not know it was Joseph they had seen.