The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-11-21
Qoetrp.
PRAYER AND PorATogs

/
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute {
daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depa
in peace, be ye warmed and filed; notwithstant
ing ye give them not those things which are neet
full for the body, what doth it proftY-James
1916.
An old lady sat in her old armchair,
With wrinllled 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 of good
Not one was left for the old lady's food,
Of those potatoes;
And she sighed and said, "what shall I do9
Where shall send, and to whom shall 90
For more potatoes7"
And she thought of the deacon over the way,
The deacon so ready TO worship ard pray,
Whose cellar was full of potatoes;
And she said: 81 viii send for the deacon to 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 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, 'Potatoesr"
But the deacon's religion didn't lie that WY;
he was more accustomed to preach and to prav
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;D
She audibly sighed, ''Giye potato4s;''
And at the end of each prayer which he said,
BE heard, or thought he heard, in its stead,
The same request for potatoes
The deacon was tronbled; knew not what to do
Twas very embarrassing to have her act so
About those "carnal potatoes;o
So, ending his prayer, he departed for home:
But, as the door closed, he heard a keep groan,
80, give to the hungry potatoesl".
And that groan followed him all the way bou.
In the midst of the night it haunted his room,
40, give to the hungry potatoesl"
He could bear It no longer; arose and dressed;
I rEoh MS Wel-nled cellar taking In haste
bag of his best potatoes
Again he went to the widows lone hut;
Her sleepless eyes she yet had not shut;
But there she sat in that old armchair,
With the same wan features the same sad air;
And, entering in, be poured on the floor
bushel or more from his goodly store
OF his choice potatoes.
The widows heart leaped up for JOY,
Her face was haggArd and wan no more;
Now, " said the deacon, "shall we pray?p
Yes" said the widow, ''now you may.
md he kneeled him down on the sanded floor,
Where he had poured his goodly store,
Ind such prayer the deacon prayed
IS never before his lips essayed;
70 longer embarrassed, but free and full,
lie poured out the voice of liberal soul,
md the widow responded aloud "Amen!"
But said no more of potatoes.
nd would you, who hear this simple tale,
ray for the poor, and have praying ''prevail,"
hon preface your prayers with aims and good
deeds;
sarch out the poor, their wants and their uesds,
ray for peace, and grace, and spiritual food,
or wisdom, and guidance, for all these are good;
But don't forget the potatoes.