Chapter I: Preface

When it was not so common, as now, to issue publications from the press, a book of any kind seldom made its appearance, without a PREFACE, to give the reader some idea of its contents, and the history of its elaboration from the author's mind. But at the present day, when authorship is no longer the prerogative of the few, and the press teems with every species of literature, preface writing has quite fallen into desuetude; not improbably for the very solid and satisfactory reason that it would be a most difficult, perplexing, and onerous business, to their several authors, to assign any plausible grounds for the publication of one half of the volumes that come forth in such immense shoals from the press.

We are certainly attached to the good old custom of having a preface, although we are aware that many authors who omit this appendage, assign as a reason, that the preface is the only part of a book that is never read. This we think, in many instances, is not exactly true. There are those in the present day, who like to know why a book was written, and what it contains, before they begin to read it. By such knowledge--and this is precisely the information a preface ought to convey--they avoid the trouble of reading many a volume, which had the author been of the same mind, he might have escaped the trouble of writing. To this class of readers the preface is an important part of the book: while to those who eschew every thing of this sort, it will give but little trouble, to turn over a leaf or two to the commencement of the first chapter.

We did not mean, when we began, to write a defence of prefaces--but to write a preface to our own work.

The name of this volume, GLEANINGS BY THE WAY, indicates the character of the work. It consists principally of thoughts gathered up--and sketches of scenery, and incidents, that came before the author during excursions made into the country at different periods, within the last four years. For several years the author has been labouring under infirm health, and has found it necessary after encountering the heavy pastoral duties and labours connected with a large city congregation for nine or ten months in succession, to retire from the scene of his ministerial duties, and seek to recruit his wasted strength and enfeebled health amid the retirement of rural life, or the diversified scenes of travel and journeying. During these seasons of relaxation, the author desired still to be engaged in something that might at least indirectly promote the interests of religion. This volume contains some of the things of which he at such seasons made a record.

In the tour to the FAR WEST, made during the summer of 1837--and the sketch that depicts the outline of the Mormon Delusion, the author cherishes the hope that facts are brought to light that will interest a large class of readers. And he also cherishes the hope that while these pages may interest the general reader, may beguile a lonely hour--and attract the attention of some who would not be likely to take up a more serious book--the tendency of the whole volume will be to advance, at least indirectly, that cause which lies so near to his heart. With this hope--and not with any expectation of earning increased literary reputation, he sends forth these GLEANINGS BY THE WAY.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. 13

_The Three Gleaners._

CHAPTER II. 25

_Views of Pennsylvania_:--Tour to Harrisburgh--Aspect of the country--The Valley of the Susquehanna--The passage of the River--The Valley of the Juniata--Huntingdon--The Rev. John W. James--His sudden exit.

CHAPTER III. 32

_Glimpses of Western Pennsylvania_:--Source of the Juniata--Ascent of the Alleghanies--The summit--The Great Mississippi Valley--Skepticism--Rank growth of religious error--Dunkards--Valley of the Conemaugh-- Moonlight--Singular conversation--Infidel sneers.

CHAPTER IV. 42

_Pittsburg and its environs_:--First view of Pittsburg--Its general aspect--Sabbath and its employments--An affecting incident--Orphan children--A Christian father in the midst of his children on the Sabbath.

CHAPTER V. 49

_Voyage on the Ohio_:--Travelling companions--Steamboats on the Ohio--The Elk--The Ohio river--The Harmonists--Steubenville--Wheeling--Marietta-- Portsmouth--Kentucky--The dead steamboat captain--Kentucky funeral.

CHAPTER VI. 62

_A glimpse of Kentucky_:--Cincinnati--The Queen city--Views in reference to missionary labour--The kind of missionaries wanted in the great Valley--Walnut Hills--Lane Seminary--Dr. Beecher--Woodward College--Dr. Aydelott--The old Kentucky man--Louisville--The Galt House--View of the interior of Kentucky--Plantations--A sore evil--Kentuckian traits of character--A thrilling incident.

CHAPTER VII. 75

_The Ohio near its mouth_:--New Albany--Sailing down the Ohio--Profanity--Lovely views of nature--A sudden squall on the river--Kentucky shore--Young fawn--The mouth of the Tennessee river--The swimming deer--His struggle and capture--Meeting of the waters of the Ohio with the Mississippi--Gambling--Intemperance--Sail up the Mississippi to St. Louis.

CHAPTER VIII. 88

_The Mississippi and some of its tributaries_:--St. Louis--Roman cathedral--Desecration of the Sabbath--Golden sunsets--Sail up the Mississippi--The meeting of the waters of the Missouri and the Mississippi--Alton--The burning prairie.

CHAPTER IX. 105

_Further views on the Mississippi_:--Des Moines River--Iowa--Group of Indians--Tributary streams to the Mississippi--Galena--Bishop of Illinois--My sister's grave.

CHAPTER X. 114

_Illinois and the Lakes_:--Lead mines--Indian treaty--Ride to Chicago--Vast prairies--The stricken family--Amusing adventures--Chicago--Milwaukie-- Mackinaw--Indian encampment.

CHAPTER XI. 126

_Michigan_:--Steamboat travelling upon the western Lakes--The waters of Huron--Saginaw Bay--The stormy night--The beautiful St. Clair--Detroit--Bishop of Michigan--Ypsilanti--Ann Arbour--Ore Creek--Bewildered at night in the woods--Rescue--Meeting of friends--Log Cabin.

CHAPTER XII. 140

_Tour from the West_:--The Romanists--Miracles--Indians--Captain M---- The unhappy sailor--Toledo--Cleveland--Buffalo--Niagara Falls.

CHAPTER XIII. 151

_Western New York_:--Niagara Falls--Rochester--Canandaigua--Geneva--Seneca Lake--The moonlit heavens--Departed friends--The clergyman's son--The candidate for the ministry--A beloved brother--My departed mother--Geneva College--The Sabbath.

CHAPTER XIV. 161

_A jaunt from Philadelphia to Albany_:--A bleak, dreary morning--Bishop of Illinois--Sail up the Delaware--New York Bay--Sail up the Hudson--Unexpected meeting--College friend--Story of his afflictions--Poor African servant.

CHAPTER XV. 171

_The Irish couple_:--Albany--The Irish mother--Incidents that occurred five years ago--The disappointed emigrants--The Little Falls--Rural retirement.

CHAPTER XVI. 179

_Western New York._

CHAPTER XVII. 181

_A Summer Tour_:--Retirement--Seneca Lake--Burlington, N. J.--Brooklyn, N. Y.

CHAPTER XVIII. 187

_Green Wood Cemetery_:--Brooklyn--Improvements--Ride--Approach to the Cemetery--Views--Beautiful scenes.

CHAPTER XIX. 193

_Rhode Island_:--Sail up the Sound--Burning of the Lexington--Providence--Meeting of old friends--Mr. Emerson--Transcendentalism--Westerly.

CHAPTER XX. 201

_The sudden storm_:--Rapid travelling--Auburn--Stage coach--Seneca Lake--Summer's sultry heat--Sudden change--Fierce tempest--Imminent peril.

CHAPTER XXI. 205

_Reminiscences of the past_:--Sunday--Sacred worship--The sanctuary recalling youthful scenes--Early plighted vows at the table of the Lord--Retrospect--Mournful reflections--Change in the congregation--Mr. and Mrs. N---- The C---- family--Col. T---- Village burial ground--C---- The buried pastor--My Mother--Palmyra--Early ministerial labours--Lyons.

CHAPTER XXII. 216

_The Origin of the Mormon Delusion_:--The golden Bible--Moral, political, and numercial importance of the Mormon sect--Views of Revelation--Causes that have contributed to spread Mormonism--Martin Harris--Interview with the author--Transcripts from the golden Bible--Jo Smith, the Mormon prophet--His early history--First pretended revelation--His marriage--Chest containing the golden Bible--Attempts to disinter it--Consequence--Delusion of Harris--Translation and publication of the _Book of Mormon_.

CHAPTER XXIII. 232

_A letter written by Professor Anthon_:--The circumstances that led to this letter--Martin Harris--His visit to New York--Interview with Dr. Mitchell--Professor Anthon.

CHAPTER XXIV. 239

_The Mormon, or Golden Bible_:--The origin of the Book of Mormon--The statement of Mr. Isaac Hale, father-in-law of the Mormon Prophet--Rev. Mr. Spalding's Historical Romance--Mrs. Davison's statement--The blindness of Martin Harris--Testimony of the three witnesses--The eight witnesses.

CHAPTER XXV. 259

_Mormon Jesuitism_:--Denial of Mrs. Davison's statement in reference to the origin of the Mormon Bible--The truth of her statement corroborated by a letter from the Rev. John Storrs--By another from the Rev. D. R. Austin.

CHAPTER XXVI. 268

_Analysis of the Book of Mormon._

CHAPTER XXVII. 285

_Analysis of the Book of Mormon continued._

CHAPTER XXVIII. 304

_Farther developments in relation to the Mormon imposture._

CHAPTER XXIX. 311

_Organization of the Mormons, and their removal to Ohio_:--Steps leading to the Mormon emigration to the West--Conversion of Parley P. Pratt--Mission to the Lamanites--Sidney Rigdon--His avowed conversion--Fanatic scenes at Kirtland--Dr. Rosa's letter--Mr. Howe's statement--Smith's removal.

CHAPTER XXX. 323

_Mormon emigration to Missouri_:--Mission to Missouri--Causes that led to emigration--Settlement at Independence--Change in operations--Gift of tongues--Rule for speaking and interpreting.

CHAPTER XXXI. 331

_Mormon Banking_:--The prophet's attempt at financiering--Mr. Smalling's letter.

CHAPTER XXXII. 337

_The Mormon Prophet and his three witnesses_:--An interesting public document--The Danite band--Testimony of Dr. Avard--Paper drafted by Rigdon.

CHAPTER XXXIII. 345

_Concluding sketch in relation to Mormonism._

GLEANINGS BY THE WAY.