Here is another 1854 version that probably led to the hymn in "The Social Harp," by McCurry. It is a parody in the form of a spiritual, made famous by the Christy's Minstrels. All of the variants seem to originate with the 1854 efforts to outdo each other by the various minstrel troupes crossing the land from coast to coast.

FEW DAYS or I'm Going Home
Adapted by Albert Holland, 1854

Solo:
I pitch'd my tent on this camp ground.
Chorus:
Few days. Few Days.
Solo:
To give the Devil another round.
Chorus:
I'm going home.
Solo:
The Devil's a liar and conjuror too.
Chorus:
Few days.
I'm going home.
Few days. Few days.
Solo:
He conjured me and he'll conjure you
Chorus:
I'm going home
Solo:
We have a few days,
I'm going home right up yonder.
Chorus:
Few days. Few days.
Solo:
We have a right up yonder.
Chorus:
Few days. Few days.
Solo:
We have a right up yonder.
Chorus:
I'm going home.

Chorus:
Oh can't stay in the wilderness.
Few days. Few days.
Can't stay in the wilderness
For I'm going home.

There was a fish and his name was whale.
Few days, few days.
He swallow'd Jonah head and tail.
I'm going home.
He tosted(?) Jonah round and round.
Few days, few days.
And then he flung him on the ground.
I'm going home.

We have a right, etc.

Old Zack he climb'd a sycmore tree.
Few days, few days.
He did it for his Lord to see.
I.m going home.
The tree it broke and Zack did fall.
Few days, few days.
He didn't see his lord at all.
I'm going home.

We have a right, etc.

Few Days or I'm Going Home

I think I have located a miners' version and will try to post it today.
There are several which have to do with the politics of ca. 1854, but they are difficult to understand if one doesn't know the political history of the time (and I don't).

That the miners in California knew the song is shown by the use of the tune for "Then Hurrah For Home!", written and published in "Put's Golden Songster" by John A. Stone, 1857 and 1858, San Francisco.