The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-12-08

Ia fragment of charity sermon, preached
in Worcester, Mass, some twenty-five oil
thirty years ago. by Rev. ]. T. Peter
If brother or sister be naked and destl-
tute 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 nsedful to the body
what doth it proft!-James ii; Is, ls.
An cid lady Est in an old arm chair.
! With Wrinkled yissge. and disheveled hair,
And hunger worn features;
| For days and fer weeks her only fare,
| AS she sat there in her old arm chair,
Had been potatoes.
But now they were gone; of bad OF good
| Not ons was lett fer the old lady's food
And she sighed and said, "what shall dol
| Where shall send, and to whom shall go
For more potstoess'
And she thought of the deacon over the way,
Tho deacon 50 ready and willing to pray,
Whose cellar was full of potatoes
And abe 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 ovor as fast as he could,
Thinking to do the old lady Esme good,
But never for sAce, ofpotatoes;
He asked her at once what was her chief
want,
And shs, simple soul, expecting grant,
Immediately answered Potatoes"
But the descon's religion didn't lie that way
He was more accustomed to preach and pray,
Than to give his boarded potatoes;
So, not hearing, ofcourse, what the old lady
said,
He rose to pray, with uncovered head,
But she only thought of potatoes.
lie prayed for patience, and wisdom and
But when he prayed "LOrd, give Us peace"
She audibly sighed, "giVe potatoes"
And at the end ofeach prayer which he said,
He heard, or thought that he heard in its
The same request for potatoes.
The deacon wss troubled, knew net what to
do;
Twas very embarrassing to have her act 80
About "those carnal potatoes"
So ending his prayer, he started for home,
But as the door closed behind him, he heard |
deep groan,
go, give to the hungry potatoesl"
And that grOan followed him all the way
home;
In the midst of the night it haunted his
80, give to the hungry potAtoes!'
He could besr it no longer; arose and dressed;
From his well-hlled cellar taxing IN haste
A bag of his best potatoes.
A gain he went to the widows hut;
Her sleepless eyes she had not shut;
But there she sat in her cid arm chair,
With the same wan features, the same sad
air,
And, entering in, he poured on the floor
A bushel or more of his goodly store
Ofchoicest potatoes.
The widows heart leaped up for Joy,
Her face was hAggard and wan no more.
snow" eaid the deacon, "shall we prayp
= Yes,' said the widow, snow we may
And he kneelsd him down on the sanded
floor
W here he had poured his goodly store,
And such prayer the deacon prayed
As never before his lips essayed;
No longer embarrassed, but free and fall,
He poured out the voice of a liberal soul,
And the widow responded loud "amen!"
But said no more of potatoes.
And would you who hear this simple tale,
Pray for she poor aud praying, prevail"
Then preface your prayers with aims and
good deeds;
Search out the poor, their wants and their
needs;
Pray for peace, aud grace, and spiritual food
For wisdom and guidance, for all these are
~. ao,it forrat tho Dotatoas