A HIGHLAND SERMON.

North Otago Times, 17 December 1904, Page 1 (Supplement)

A HIGHLAND SERMON.

Ach, noo, them's a lot of you fins English folks comes hero to hear me to-day, an' I'll just speak a word to you that po a flea in your lugs, an' Initio you for a long time to oomo. You're up hero enjoyin' yoursol', an' fushin'. and lrolidayin', an' think you know a groat doal more than wo can tell yon, whatefer. But you don't, not a wan of yon, you fino peoples from ta Sooth, an' inin' what I'm tellin' you noo, for you are,in darkness, an' in creat ignorance. So just listen to mo tho day, as earnest' as you can, an' you'll hoar something you never heard pcforo or again. My text is Chonali in tho wlialo's pally. Ho wass a prophet, and that wass what happont to him for it; ' SO DON'T YOU BE PROPHETS, or you'll maybo po as closely confined as ChonaJi was whateffor, No'" you fine peoples from ta Sooth, mind what I'm tclluig you. Ym—you havo your organs playing in church. Now,, what placo is a church for an organ at aal? Morcofcr, who cfor hoard of tlio 'Postlo Paul taking his organ to church wi' him, or whoefor heard of Moses and Aaron phiyin' wi' an organ ? It is an unscriptural instrument, an' that's what it is moroofer. Now, what would Ohonah havo dono wi' an organ in TA' MALES PELLY? Just fancy Chonali playin' away at the organ thoro. Why, no respectable whalo would haf stood it wan minit at aal. An' then, you fmo peoples, you must havo your prayers printed for yon in a hit bookio. or you will not say them at iial, at aal. Now, you—you fancy Chonali ii-trying to road Ids prayers out of a bookio in ta whalo's pelly. Think how fery, fory dark it wass, an' tell mo if Chonali road his prayers, an' how ho could licht a match if thoro was no matches in those days for poor Chnnah' to light whateffor! Answer me that,' you fine, peoplos from ta Sooth! | An' that reminds mo that there's! some among you that thinks yoursolvesj fory .mowledgoful and skilful, and doesn't peliovo that Clional; swal'owrd tho whale's pelly. ISut just let mo tell you that you doesn't how vD nothing ut aal, none of you; for it was a pho-j iranumnns. That's what it wass, ' an'' that reminds me, somo of you'll wass nefer aware whaat a pheEomouons wass. Well, some of you have seen a Highland coo, whateffor. Now, if you was to sco that coo, climbing '4 ; > piuo tree, with its tail foremost away up to tho ferry top of tho tree, and iookin' for birds' nests, you would say there's phoiiomcnons for you, An' if you'll wass to sco a coolie dog gawi away outshootin' wi' a fushin' rod under its ainn, you'll would say that was moro plioiiomencns for you. An' wass it any wonder that Chonali wass just such a pliMiomcnoas; Ah! Yes, just you'll ] iniswer me [hat, you—you neoplos'from ta Sooth. ' "9 Well, my frens, lot us now picturo tho secno pcforo us. There was poor I (Jhonaili, silting squeezed up in the ] PELLY OF THAT AULD WHALE, ] ivith his head between his knees and J holding his noso as tight as ho could to keep out ta smell of ta deid fnslios, an' i ho was roarin' ;it tho top of bis voice-to 1 ta whalo:— 1 'lot me cot! Let mo oot!" ' But ta whale had ,1 duty to perform, , and nefer let on it heard him, or an- „ sivorod a single word whateffor. But ta whalo kept senium', an' soomin', an' 1 Boomed a.wa' wi' peer Chonali—awa' 1 past ta Mull of Can tyre and Ardnaraur- ! ehan and Tobormorey, as hard as it [ ;ould go, till whore Nineveh were stay- ' ing, an' thou it coughed pooi Cliojia.h lint in ta water, an' real glad wass poor '

Jlionaih to get out to ta fresh air again. : Noo, ma frens, it's woll for you to .: uiow theso tilings, for you hofer know ' :-i day or ta W that you'll might i :haiico to fa 1 intao ta fcry polly o 1 a ;i ii'halo yourselves, or intao somo sort ' )' collieshangio or anitlior. An' then. ! rou'd bo wishing you woro as you woro : , isforo you wass, an' you'll couldn't do t, an' what wass you'll bo going to do : ; :lien? Wass you'll bo going to sit down .' mil play ta organs when tliero, or to''; •ead your prayer hooks when there 'i vasn'fc any ? No, my frens, but irn'. i.n- ' ess you'll net repent, you shall all like•viso perish. An' la collection will h\ ' akon as ye rolire. ( Tea™—■■ "