The fat evangelist stuttered when he talked, but he sang when he preached-ah. He sang-ah the sin-ah out of the sinners heart-ah. He sang wallets out of purses and back pockets. He sang deep emotions out of my soul and tears out of my eyes. I loved to hear Alvin Smith preach.

Like the Old Testament priest Eli, Alvin Smith got heavy off the offerings of God's people. His wife and his children were also very large people.

The mighty man of God-ah went to Africa to preach the Word. Mosquitoes bit him, and his wife. Africa took his beloved wife from him. Malaria made him a very thin man.