Van Buren Press Van Buren, Arkansas March 20, 1861 A little boy kneeling at his mother's knee to say his evening prayer, asked leave to pray in his own words, and with a child-like simplicity said: "God bless little Willie and don't let the house burn up; God bless papa and mama; God bless me, and make my boots go on easy in the morning." Fran Alverson Warren