River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-04-04
PRAYER and Potatoes.

[If brother or sister be Naked and desti-
tute Of daily food, and one of you say unto
them, Depart in peace, be We warmed and tll-
ed Notwithstanding yc give them not those
things which are needful for the body, what
doth it profit p James H. i5-l6.l
An old lady sat in her old armchair,
With wrinked visagc and d,sheyeied 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,
or those potatoes
And she sighed aud said, What shall do?
Where shalt | send, aud TO whom shall go
For mere potatoes?'
And sue thought OF the deacon over the way,
The deacon 50 ready to worship and pray,
Whose cellar was full Of potatoes;
Aud she said " will send for the deacon to
come:
Hen not mind 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 poor soul, expecting grant,
Immediately answered, F." Potatoes!p
But the deaeons religion didn't lie that way
He was more accustomed TO preach and to pray
Than 20 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,
tut when he prayed, /" Lord give her peace, y
She audibly sighed, " Give potatoes !"
And at the end OF each prayer which he said,
He heard, or thought 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 carral potatoes =
80, ending his prayer, he started tor home;
But, as the door closed, he heard deep
groan,
90, give to the hungry potatoest /"
And that groan followed him all the way
home,
In the midst Of the night it haunted his room,
20, give 70 the hungry potatoes! !"
lie could bear 1t no longer; rose and dressed;
From his well.flled collar taking in haste
A bag 81 his best potatoes.
Again be went 10 the widows lone hut
Her slecpl IS eyes She La not yet shut
But there she sat in that ola armchair,
With the same wan features, the same sad air:
And, entering IN, he poured on the floor
bushcl or more from his goodly store
OF choice potatoes.
The widow heart lcaped mp for JOY;
Her lace vas haggard and wan no more
. Now" said tile deacon, /" shall we pray?"
. Yes said the widow. now ven may :"
And he hneeld him down on the sauded floor
Where he had poured his gooaly store,
nd ngb a IA
As never before bis lips essayod;
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 have 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, anu guiianee-for all these are
good;
But don't forget the potatoes.