ure in these here back blocks of Genesis, I know
we got to make allowances. These patriarchs is only sheepmen anyhow, and
sheep herders is trash. They're not what we call white men, but Jews,
which is a species of dago. When they get religion they're a sort
Mormons, a low-lived breed, yet useful for throwing population quick
into a lonesome country where they don't seem popular.

"Now here's Laban. He hasn't got religion, but keeps a trunk full of
no-account gods, believed in by ignorant persons. Instead of attending
to business, he trusts his foreman Jacob, so it serves him right if he's
robbed. Yet the Lord ain't down on him quite so much as you'd think, for
he's allowed to graze government land, with no taxes, mortgage, or
railroads to rob the meat off his bones. Maybe the Lord's sort of sorry
for the poor sheep-herding dago without no horses--the same being good
for men's morals, though Jones did kick me out of the stable this very
morning. Moreover, Laban lives in a scope of country where men is surely
scarce, or he'd never give more'n one of his daughters to such a swine
as Jacob. Laban tries to be white, so he'd get my vote at elections.

"You'd think that if the Lord could stand Jacob He must be plumb full of
mercy--so there's hope for skunks. He's got so many millions of
thoroughbred stud angels that even the best of men is low grade stock
to Him. And regarding us mavericks, He has an eye on them as takes
kindly to their feed. Yes, He claps His brand on them as know their
work.

"So He sees Jacob is a sure glutton, and more, a great stockman,
projucing an improved strain of ringstraked goats and sheep. And Jacob
does his duty to his country, begetting twelve sons--mean as snakes but
still the best he can raise. Yes, there's excuses for Jacob, and
lynching ain't yet invented.

"Jacob throws dirt in old man Laban's face, then skins out for his own
reservation. On this trail he's got to cross Esau's ranch--the first man
he ever swindled. Just you watch him, abject as a yaller dawg, squirming
and writhing and crawling to meet the only gentleman in that country.
You or me, Billy, would have kicked Jacob good and plenty, but we're
only scrub cow-boys, and that's what the Bible instructs.

"The mean trash agrees to keep off Laban's grass; he puts up bribes to
Esau; he plays his skin game on the folks at Succoth, which I explain
because there's ladies present, and the only comfort is that the angel
of the Lord has