We are poor people, but the child is our most cherished possession."

"I only spoke in kindness about the selling," said the king. "You are
my subjects, and the boy is my property. Take him, Hamar."

The servant was ready to put his hand on the little boy, who stood by
quietly and looked resolutely at the king. Joseph fell on his knees
and respectfully represented that he and his family were not Egyptian
subjects, but lived there as strangers, and implored the almighty
Pharaoh to allow him the rights of hospitality.

"I know nothing about all that, my good man," said the king. Then,
catching sight of the boy's angry face, he laughed. "Meseems, my young
Jew, that you would crush me to powder. Let me live a little longer in
this pleasant land of Egypt. I shall not harm you. You are much too
beautiful a child for that." He stopped, and then continued in a
different tone: "Wait, and look more closely at Pharaoh, and see if he
is really so terribly wicked, and whether it would be so dreadful to
live in his palace and hand him the goblet when he is thirsty. Well?
Be assured, old man, I shall do you no violence. Boy, you shall come
to my court of your own free will, you shall share the education and
instruction of the children of my nobles; only sometimes I shall have
you with me, you fine young gazelle. Now go home with your father.
To-morrow I will send and ask, mark you--only ask, not command. He who
is tired of plundered booty knows how to value a free gift. You hear
what I say?"

When the crowd heard Pharaoh speak to these poor people with such
unwonted kindness, the like of which they had never heard before, they
uttered mad shouts of joy. As the king proceeded on his way in his