Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-04-02
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 ye warmed and fill
ed; Notwithstanding ye give them not those
| things which are needful for the body, what
doth it profit ? James ii, 15-16.]
An old lady sat in her old armchair, --
With wrinkIed visage and disheveied hair, ..
And hunger-worn features
! For days and for weeks her only fare, a.
AS she sat there in her old arm chair, i-
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?
! Where shall [ 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: 81 will send for the deacon to
come;
He'll not mind much to give me some
OF 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 tl
He asked her at once what was her chief want,
And she, poor SOUL expecting grant,
Immediately answered, ''PotatOes !"
But the deaeon'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 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,'
She audibly sighed, g 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. eds
The deacon was troubled knew not what to
do;
Twas very embarrassing to have her act so
About those " carnal potatoes ;" 80"
So, ending his prayer, he started for home;
But, as the door closed, he heard deep
go, give to the hungry potatoes!"
And that groan followed him all the way
home,
In the midst of the night it haunted his room,
so, give to the hungry potatoes !" a.
He could bear it no longer; rose and dressed;
From his well-tiled cellar taking in haste
bag Of his best potatoes. a
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 leaped up for joy 3.
Her face was haggard and wan no more;
Z" Now" said the deacon, shall we pray?
&c Yes said the widow, &c now you may
And he kneeld MIN down on the sanded floor,
Where he had poured his gcodiy store,
And sucn 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, 1r
And the widow responded aloud, Sc 'sAmen ~
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, aud their
needs;
Pray for peace, and grace. and spirit ual food,
For wisdom, anG guidance-for all these are
good;
But don't forget the potatoes.