“And we got it from them Egyptian d——”
“I don't say that,” Westover interposed. “But they had it before we had. As we imagine it, we got it though Christianity.”
Jombateeste, who had taken his pipe out of his mouth in a controversial manner, put it back again.
Westover added, “But there's no question but the Egyptians believed in the life hereafter, and in future rewards and punishments for the deeds done in the body, thousands of years before our era.”
“Well, I'm dumned,” said Whitwell.
Jombateeste took his pipe out again. “Hit show they got good sense. They know—they feel it in their bone—what goin' 'appen—when you dead. Me, I guess they got some prophet find it hout for them; then they goin' take the credit.”
“I guess that's something so, Jombateeste,” said Whitwell. “It don't stand to reason that folks without any alphabet, as you may say, and only a lot of pictures for words, like Injuns, could figure out the immortality of the soul. They got the idee by inspiration somehow. Why, here! It's like this. Them Pharaohs must have always been clawin' out for the Hebrews before they got a hold of Joseph, and when they found out the true doctrine, they hushed up where they got it, and their priests went on teachin' it as if it was their own.”
“That's w'at I say. Got it from the 'Ebrew.”
“Well, it don't matter a great deal where they got it, so they got it,” said Jackson, as he rose.
“I believe I'll go with you,” said Westover.