Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-06-24
Another Discourse from "the Harp Of q
Thousand Strings"

Thousand Strings.
The following, together with the well
known sermon on "the Harp of Thousand
Strings" is published in England as verit-
able specimen of the pulpit oratory of the
backwoods of the United States:
"Beloved breetherin, I'm the man which
preached the sarmon which has been printed
in the papers, from the text "and he play
ed on a harp Nv thousand strugs-sperrits
of just men made perfeck." l mout as well
say l don't take pride in things NV that sort,
fer in the language Nv of my text fer tn
day-l'm an orful sinner, the chief among
ten thousand, and the one altergether luvly.
"Them is the words which you'll find in
Genessee. Pm gwin to preach without
notes, kas / can't rite, and kase | coulden't
read it, eff l could; my notes are bank notes,
l have a pocket full, and notes of hand,
which shall give to our square to collect,
when get back to Indiany, for-Pm an or
full sinner the chief among ten thousand, and
the one altergether luvly.
This text, my breetherin, can be divided
into three rts-fust-second-- Fust,
I'm an orful sinner. That means you indi-
widually, not me personally. Thar ar more
sins nor one. It's a sin to drink water and
cetch the ager whar little spirit will keep
you in good health--tis sin to swear unless
you swear and sin not-'tis a sin to lie, unless
you lie low and keep dark. Pride issin. Sum is
proud of their books; now ant, though I've
the gift and the grit to speakin. Sum is proud
of their larnin; but thank God I've none to
be proud of-for I'm an orful sinner, the
chief among ten thousand and the one alter
gether luvly.
"Second: Chief among ten thousand
Thar is different kinds of chiefs. Thar's the
mischief the chief of sinners, and the Ca
yuga CHIEF. The mischief means the Old
Boy, that keeps the fire office below, and lets
poor folks suffer in the cold here on airth.-
The chief of sinners means you, you wharf
rats arter de melons, amhebus animals what
live here about the canawl The Cayugo
Chief is a Teller what pitches into my frens
the spirit dealers, and my other frens the
state prison officers. He is one of your cold
water men who goes for the prohibition law
that Gov Seymour vetoed. If it twarnt
Sunday [ should hooray for Seymour-fol
I'm an orful sinner, the chief among ter
thousand, and the one altergether luvly.
"Thirdly: Altogether luvly. Different
things is luvly. When my boat swims likes
duck, | say she am luvly-when my wife
gives me no curtain lectures (she has the gif
of tongues as we'll as myself) / say she an
luvly--when the wind don't blow, and i,
don't rain, and don't do nothing, l say the
day am luvly-fur I'm the chief among ter
thousand and the one altergether luvly.
"My breetherin, want to give notice
there will be some carvings on at this place
next Sunday afternoon at halfpas four, whel
shall prove the doctrin that of all the shell
in the world the hard shells am the thickes
and the best--for I'm an orful sinner, tn,
chief among ten thousand, and the one alter
gether luvly.
Il shall prove that book larnin amt of n,
use, my breetherin; that ritin sermons ant
getting clergy for um as a sin that deserve
indemnification-f Pm an orful sinner, tn
chief among ten thousand, and the one alter
gether luvly."