The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-07-22
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PRAYER AID POTATOES.
4 sERxoS BIT REV. J. T. pETTEE.

Ifa brothe. or sister be naked, and desti
tute ofdaily food. and one of you say unit
them, Depart in peace, be We warmed AM
filed; notwithstanding ye give them no
those things which arc needfIl for the body
what doth it proft?-James ii; IS, l6.
An old lady sat in her old armchair
With wrinkled yisage and disheveled halr
And hnnger-worn features;
For days and for weeks her only fare,
As she sat there ia 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;
Aud she sighed aud said, ''What shall do:
Where shall send. and to whom shall sc
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: "I will send for the deacon to
come;
He'll not mind much to give me some
OF such store ofpotatoes."
Aad the deacon came over as fast as he
could,
Thinking to do the old lady some g1od,
But never for once Of potatoes;
He asked her ct once what was her chief want.
And she, simple soul, expecting grant,
Immediately answered Potatoes"
But the deacon's religion didn't lie that way
he was more accustomed to preach and 10
pray,
Than to give of his boarded potatoes !:
So, not hearing, ofcourse, what the old lady
said,
He rose to pray, with uncovered head.
But sac only thought Of potatoes.
He prayed for patience, and wisdom. and
grace,
But when he prayed "Lord give her peace" J"
She sudiby sighed, "Give potatoes"
Aud at the end of each prayer which he said.
He heard, or though. that he heard in its
stead,
The same requestf for potatoes.
The deacon was troubled; he knew not what
to do
Twas very embarrassing 10 have her act so
About 'theSe carnal potatoes"
So, eading his prayer, he started for home;
Bat, as the door closed behind him, he heard
deep groan,
30, give to the hungry potatoes"
And that groan followed him all the way
home;
In the midst of the night it haunted his
30. give to the hungry potatoes"
He could bear i: no longer; arose and dressed;
From his well-flled cellar taking in haste
A bag Of his best potatoes.
, Again be went to the widows lone hut;
Her sleepless eyes she had not yet shut;
Bus there she sat in that old arm chair,
With the same wan features, the same sad
air,
And entering in, be poured on the floor
a bushel OF more from his goodly store
OF fchoicest potatoes.
The widows heart lcaped up for joy;
Her face was haggard and wan no more.
"Now," said the deacon, ''shali we pray?
eyes" said the widow, nov you may"
And he kneeled him down on the sauded
floor,
Where he had poured his goodly store,
tpd such prayer the deacon prayed
AS never before his lips essayed;
No longer embarrassed, but free and full,
he poured out the voice of e liberal soul,
aud the widow responded aloud "ameu"
But said no more Of potatoes.
Ind would you, who hear this simple tale,
Pray fer the poor. and praying, "prevsil."
Tsen pssfsce your prayers with aims and
good deeds:
Search out the poor, their wants and their
needs:
pr,v for peace, and grace. and spiritua! food,
For y, don, and guidance, for all these are
good,
Rnt don't forget the potatoes.
Merider, Ct, ISL,