Though I was kept busy replying to all manner of questions, I also did my share of questioning. One day as Father Joseph, David, and I were travelling from one place to another through a beautiful country district, it occurred to me that it was my turn to know something of the history of the people, and so I asked Father Joseph to tell me how they had come to this part of the earth.

"Doesn't your book tell you that?" he enquired. "I have not seen anything about it," I replied. "Well, I’ll tell you, and then when you read your book, be on the lookout for references."

I promised him I would.

"Our history begins, of course, as does all history, with our common father and mother, Adam and Eve; but perhaps it will be going far enough back when I begin with Abraham. You read about him in your scriptures as we do in ours. You are acquainted with the dealings of the Lord with the children of Israel, their sojourn in Egypt, their deliverance, their forty years journey in the wilderness, and their establishment in the promised land. You have read of Saul, of David, and of Solomon, and of the prophets in Israel.

"Your book should also tell of the trouble that came to the house of Israel after the death of Solomon, when Rehoboam was king."

I had not then read about it, so he continued:

"When Rehoboam was to be crowned king, all the congregation of Israel, with one Jeroboam, came to the new king and complained of the grievousness of the burdens of Solomon, his father, asking him to lighten the yoke which he had put upon them - if he would do this, they promised to serve him. The king took three days to consider the matter, and in the meantime, he consulted with the old counsellors of his father, who advised him to heed the peoples' request, but Rehoboam rather took the counsel of his own young companions, and told the people that he would make their yoke still heavier. `My father chastised you with whips,' he said, `but I will chastise you with scorpions.' Then ten of the tribes if Israel revolted and chose Jereboam for their king. Rehoboam ruled in Jerusalem over the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and from that time there were two kingdoms in Israel. Then came troublesome times. Wickedness was rife, until at least the Lord permitted Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, to conquer the ten tribes and lead them captive to his own country.

"But they were not satisfied to live there. Their sufferings had made them somewhat penitent, and they desired to go to a land where they could be free from the influences of surrounding heathen nations. In their old home they had not kept the commandments of the Lord. But where could they go? To the east, south, and west of them, the lands were filled with people. Northward was their only hope, and northward they set their faces. There was a mighty nation traveling, and they had many difficulties to overcome, but the Lord was with them and led them forth.

"Slowly they travelled with their flocks and their herds, their tents and provisions. As they came further north the surface of the country changed, the days and nights varied greatly, and the climate became cold. Many of the faint-hearted tarried by the wayside. As the toils of the journey increased, the discontented became more numerous and they refused to go further. They, therefore, remained in the lands passed through, and no doubt built themselves homes therein, multiplied and became a great people. Onward the main body went until they reached this land. How they crossed the barrier of ice - if the ice was there at that time - our history is strangely silent about.

"Yes, the land was like a new world to them, with its long, dark nights and its long light days. But they accustomed themselves to the new conditions, the best they could. They organized themselves after the pattern of the people from whom they had come, and the Lord was with them to bless and to prosper, seeing they had their hearts set on serving him."

Joseph paused, and I took the opportunity to say:

"I have often wondered who were the progenitors of the people of northern Europe. Now, what you say leads me to believe that those of your people who remained behind become the founders of these races. I am a Norseman through my mother, therefore, I am to a degree, of the same race as you."

Joseph looked at me keenly as I made this declaration. "Yes," he said, with a smile, "You, no doubt, are of our people Israel." And he placed his hand on my head as if to give me a blessing.

(The record here is so torn and faded that a number of pages could not be deciphered. - J.B.)

I read to Joseph the account of the crucifixion of Christ, translating the best I could from my Bible. He was deeply moved by the narration, and he said to me that as soon as I was able I was to write out the story so that all the people might know.

"What become of the Jews?" asked Joseph.

I thought for a moment to collect what I knew about them. "They were greatly punished," I said. "Some time after Christ, they were conquered and Jerusalem destroyed. They scattered all over the earth. The Jews are to be found in every nation, and in some countries they have been, and still are, treated cruelly."

"So there is no longer a Jewish nation?" said Jospeh, rather in the tone of a statement of a truth which he knew than that of a question.