The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-05-02
PRA YER AND PO1ATOES.

eff a brother sister be naked, and des-
titute of daily food, and one of you say unto
them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and
filled: Notwithstanding ye give them not
those things which are needful for the body,
what doth ii profit ?"-James IL, 1916.
An old lady sat in her old armchair,
With wrinkled visage and dishe yelled hair,
And hunger-worn features
For days and for weeks her only fare,
As she sat there i'll her old arIn-c 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 do 4?
Where shall L send, and to whom shall go,
For more potatoes ?''
And she thought on the deacon over the way,
The deacon so ready to worship and pray,
Whose cellar was full of potatoes
And she said II will send for the deacon
to come
He'll not mind much to give me some
OF such store of potatoes"
And the deacon come over as fast as he
could,
Thinking to do the 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, potatoes -
But the deacon's religion didn't lie that way !;
He was more accustomed to preach and to
pray
Than to give of his boarded potatoes;
So, not hearing, of course, what the old lady
said,
He rose 10 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, -
,ly- -,
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 darned potatoes"
So ending his prayer, he started for home
But, as the door closed, he heard Il deep
grOan,
oh give to the hungry potatoes
And then groan followed him all the way
In the midst of he night it haunted his
'sOh, give to the hungry potatoes -
H could bear itno longer; arose and dressed;
From his we'll filled cellar taking III haste
a bag of his best potatoes.
\ gain he Went to the widows lone hut;
Her sleepless eye she had not yet shut,
But there she sat, In that O!t armchair,
With the same wan features, the same sad
air,
And, entering in, he poured on the floor
\ bushel or more from his goodly store
OF choice potatoes.
| The widows heart leaped up for joy,
| Her face was haggard and wan no more;
| Now" said the deacon; ''shall we pray 90
| Yes said the widow, ''now you may -
| And he kueeled 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 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.