--One would like to live long enough to witness certain things which will
no doubt come to pass by and by. I remember that when one of our good
kindhearted old millionnaires was growing very infirm, his limbs failing
him, and his trunk getting packed with the infirmities which mean that
one is bound on a long journey, he said very simply and sweetly, "I don't
care about living a great deal longer, but I should like to live long
enough to find out how much old (a many-millioned fellow-citizen) is
worth." And without committing myself on the longevity-question, I
confess I should like to live long enough to see a few things happen that
are like to come, sooner or later.
I want to hold the skull of Abraham in my hand. They will go through the
cave of Machpelah at Hebron, I feel sure, in the course of a few
generations at the furthest, and as Dr. Robinson knows of nothing which
should lead us to question the correctness of the tradition which regards
this as the place of sepulture of Abraham and the other patriarchs, there
is no reason why we may not find his mummied body in perfect
preservation, if he was embalmed after the Egyptian fashion. I suppose
the tomb of David will be explored by a commission in due time, and I
should like to see the phrenological developments of that great king and
divine singer and warm-blooded man.
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