The Lost Brother

Once upon a time there was a young boy who lived in ancient Egypt. He lived in a small house with his father, mother, two sisters and a brother. His father was a farmer who worked the fields near the family home.

The boy had an older brother he had not seen for two years. The brother had gone to work on a boat that travelled up and down the Nile transporting grain, fruit and wine. The boy often went down to the river after finishing his work in the fields. He always hoped he might see his brother on one of the boats sailing by. One very hot afternoon, he went down to the river...

The deep, blue water of the Nile sparkled in the bright, hot sunlight. As the boy walked along the banks of the old, calm river, he saw two boats tied up next to each other on the shore. They were being loaded with grain and fruit by a group of men. One of the workmen waved him over towards the ancient, wooden boats. The boy walked over and the tall, thin man offered him a place on one of the boats. He thought of finding his brother, and told the man he would go.

The boy climbed into the boat. The men picked up their oars and began rowing together. The strong current of the Nile would help carry the boat downstream, but the men would still have to row to keep a steady pace. After many days and nights of travel, the boat reached a port. The boy heard one of the rowers say that the boat would be going on to the 'great lake.” The goods going on to the Delta would need to be moved to another boat.

After many days of sailing, the boat slowed down and the rowers rested. The boy looked over the side of the boat. The river ahead was divided into many small channels. He could see the desert in the distance, but the land by the river was marshy and green. Maybe his brother had become a farmer here. The boat pulled up alongside another boat going the other way. The sailors were getting ready to hoist the sails.

The boat was tied up on shore and the boy got off. He walked up the bank and soon reached the fields where the farmers were planting their crops. After a short rest, he began to walk again. A local girl told him that a group of the pharaoh's men had just set out for the turquoise mines. Could his brother be one of those men? The girl also told him that a trading ship was leaving for the coast the next day.

The boy walked for many days through the marshy land. Finally, he reached the coast. The water was clear and blue and it shimmered in the sun. He could see a large ship in the distance sailing towards Egypt. He wondered what riches it was carrying. He went to the nearest town and asked if he could join the crew. The next day, as the men arrived at the boat, he saw a familiar face in the crowds. It was his brother. He waved his arms and shouted. His brother turned around and smiled. The brothers ran towards each other and hugged. Then, they climbed the ramp up to the boat. It was the beginning of a new adventure for both of them.