Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-03-18
Selected Miscellany.
PRAYER AND POTATOES.
A SERMON BY REV. J. y.p.

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute o
daily food and one of you say unto them
Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filed; not
withstanding ye give them not those things which
are needful to the body; what doth it profit?-
James II; Is. 16.
An old lady sat in her old arm chair,
With wrinkled vlsage and disheveled hair,
And hunger worn features
For days and for weeks her only fare,
AS she sat there in her Old arm chair,
Had been potatoes. 4t
But now they were gone of bad or good
NOT ore was left for the old lady's food
And she sighed, psSiesii and said "whst shall do,
Where shall send, and to whom shall go
tor more potatoesr
E.nd she thought of the deacon over the way,
The deacon so ready to worship and pray,
Whose cellar was so full of potatoes.
And she said: :" will send for the deacon tt
come;
He'll noe ll,nd much to give me some
Or such store. OF potatoes"
And'the deacon came over as fast as he could,
Thinking to do the old lady. some good
But never, for once, of potatoes
He asked her at once what was her chief want
And she, simple soul, expecting grant,
Immediately answered " Potatoes"
But the deacon's religion didn't lie that way;
lie was more accustomed to preach and to pray,
Than TO give of his boarded potatoes:
80, not hearing, OF course, what the old lady said
He rose to pray. with uncovered head,
But she only thought of potatoes.
Re prayed for patience, and wisdom, and grace,
But when he prayed . Lord give her peace
She audbly sighed Give pOtatOes;''
AND at the end OF each prayer which he said,
He heard or thought he heard in its stead,
That same request for potatoes.
The deacon was troubled; knew not what to do;
Twas Very embarrassing to have her act so
About those carnal potatoes
30, ending his prayer, he started for home;
but, as the door closed behind him, he heard a
80, gsSe 70 tie hungry, potatoes!'
And that groan followed him all the way home;
In the midst Of the night it haunted his room
H. % gage the hungry, potatoes"'
ItS c3ulu pear IL no logger; arose and dressed;
tI0Ia his well-fled cellar taking in haste
a Dag OF his best potatoes.
Again he went to the widows lone hut:
her sleepless eyes she had not yet shut:
Dnt thsre she sat in that old arm chair,
Wl5h the same wan features, the same sad air,
ana entering in, he poured on the floor
Dusbel or more from his goodly store,
vi choicest potatoes.
The Widows heart leaped up for ioy,
Her face was haggard and wan no more.
NOW, said the deacon, shall we pray?'
Yes, said the widow, "now you mayt'
ana ne kneeled him down on the sanded floor
Where he had poured his goodly store,
AND such prayer the deacon prayed;
AS never before his lips essayed
NO longer embarra sed, but free ana fulI
he poured out the voice of liberal SOUL
ana the widow responded loud 'ameni"
But said no more of potatoes
AND would you, who hear this simple tale
R0ytor Me poor, and praying ''preyau''
ihen preface your prayers with aims and good
deeds
Search out the poor, their wants and their needs
1Iay Ior peace, and grace, and spiritual food
For wisdom, and guidance, for all these are good
6~ dont forget the potatoes