The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-04-04
S U NDAy READING.
PRAYER AND POTATOES.
a SERMON ny REV. j. rErTEE.

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute
OF daily food, and one of you say unto them, De
part IN peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwitli-
standing ye give them not those things which are
needtul Tor the body; what doth IL prOflt?-tJames
ii. Is, l6.
An old lady sat in her old armchair
With wrinkled visage and disheveled hair.
And hunger-worn features;
For days and for weeks her only fare,
As she sat there in her old armchair.
Had been potatoes
But now they were gone; of bad or good
Not one was left for the old lady's food
OF those potatoes;
And sighed and said, "What shall do2
Where shall l send, and to whom shall go
For more potatOes?'
And she thought of the deacon over the way.
The deacon so ready to worship and pray,
Whose cellar was full of potatoes,
And she SAID: II viii send for the deacon to come
He'll not mind much to give me some
OF such n 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:
lie 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;
He was more accustomed to preach and pray
Than to give of his boarded potatoes;
So not hearing, Of course, what the old lady said,
He rose to pray, with uncovered head,
But she only thought of potatoes.
He prayed for patience, and wisdom, and grace,
But when he prayed Lord give her peace,'
Tho oio -,
And at the end OF each prayer which he said
He heard or thought that he heard in its stead.
The 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"
So ending his prayer, he started for home
But as the door closed behind him, he heard a
deep groan,
go. gire the hungry pOtatoes.r'
And that groan followed him all the way home;
In the midst Of the night 1t haunted his room
40, gire the hungry I'otdtoesP'
He could bear it no longer arose and dressed.
From his well-flled cellar taking in haste
bag of his best potatoes.
Again he went to the Widows lone hut:
Her sleepless eyes she had not yet shut;
But there she sat In that old arm chair,
With the same wan features, the same sad air,
And, entering in, he poured on the floor
A bushel or more from his goodly store
OF choice potatoes
The Widows heart jumped up for joy;
Her face was haggard and wan no more.
"Now," said the deacon, shall we pray?'
Yes" said the widow, "now you may"
And he kneeled him down on the sanded floor.
Where he had poured his goody store,
And such a prayer the deacon prayed
As never before his lips essayed;
No longer embarrassed, but fr ee and full,
lie poured out the voice OF liberal soul,
And the widow responded aloud, "amenr
But said no more Of potatoes
And would yot, who hear this simple tale,
Pray for the poor, and praying. prevail"
Then preface your prayers with aims and good
deeds;
Search out the poor, their wants and their needs
Pray for peace, and grace, and spiritual food,
For wisdom, and guidance, for all these are good
But don't forget the potatoes.