The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-15
Prayer and Potatoes.
BIZ REV J. I. PETTEE.

THE following poem administers q severe
though just rebul1e to worldly Christianity. 1t
is fragment OF a charity sermon, preached in
Dorchester, Mass, some twelve or fourteen
years sgo:l
II brother OF sister be naked aud destitute
OF daily food, and one Of you say unto them,
Depart IN peace, be ye warmed and filled not
Eithstanding ye give them not those things
profit :-tJames Has, I6.
An old lady sat In her old arm chair,
With wrin led visage and disheyeled hair,
With hunger-worn features:
For days and for weeks her only fare,
As she sat there in her old arm chair,
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 she sighed and said, what shall do7
For more potatoes p"
And she thought OF the deacon over the way.
The deacon so ready 10 worship and pray,
Whose cellar was full OF potatoes;
And she said: II will send for the deacon tC
come;
He'll not mind much TO give me some
Of such a store OF potatoes"
And the deacon came over as fast as he could
Thinking 70 do the old lady some good,
But never for once Of potatoes;
he asked her az once what was her chief want
Immediately answered, Potatoes"
But the deacOn's religion didn't lie that way;
He was more accustomed to preach aid &c
Than TO give of his boarded potatoes;
80, not hearing OF course, what the old lady
He rose TO pray, with uncovered head,
But she only thought Of potatoes.
He prayed for patience, and wisdom. and grace
But when ne prayed, Lord, give her peace
She audibly sighed, -Give potatoes;''
And at the end OF each prayer which he said,
He heard, or thought that he heard In its stead,
Ihat same request for potatoes
The deacon was troubled knew not what TO
Twas very embarrassing 10 have her act so
About "those carnal potatoes"
90, ending his prayer, he started for home;
But, as the door closed behind him, he heard a
Hoh, give to the hungry, potatoesrr
And that groan followed him all the way homo;
In the midst OF the night It haunted his room
'0h, give 10 the hungry, pOtatoeSw
He could bear Il no longer; arose and dressed; 7;
From his well-hlled cellar taking in haste
A 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 the old arm chair,
with the same wan features, the same sad air,
And, entering in, he poured on the noor
A bushel or more from his goOdly store
or fchoicest potatoes.
The widows heart Ieaped up for Joy,
Her face was wan and haggard no more.
NOW" said the deacon, "Shall we pray ."
yes" said the widow, snow you may"
And he kneeled him down on the sanded floor,
Where he had poured his eoOdly store,
And such prayer as the deacon prayed
As never before his lips essayed;
No longer embarrassed, but free and full
He poured out the voice OF a liberal soul,
And the widow responded aloud, "Amen!"
But said no more Of potatoes.
And would you, 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.