The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-26
Gtregt4telliqetrcer
CHRISTMAS EVE.


III dlSs bOIliIA 4. bhON.
Twas the night before Christmas; Goodnight
| had been said,
And Annie and Willie had crcpt into bed;
There were tears on their pillows, and tears Il
their eyes,
And each little bosom was heavy with SlghG-
For tonight their stern fathers commands hat
That they should retire precisely at seven,
Instead Of at eight: for they troubled him NOR
With questions unheard Of, than ever before;
He hQd told thCm he thought this deluiOus SIN
No such being as "SantA Claus" ever had been
Aud no hoped, after this, he should n0vermOr
! helr
How he scrambled down chImnCys with present.
each year.
And this was the reason that two little heads
SO rcstlessly tossed on thGiy SOFT, downy beds.
ten;
Not word had been spoken by either thu then
When WiliG's sad face from the blanket did peep
And whispered, Dear Annie Is you fast asleep =
"Why, no, brother Willie" sweet voice Ieplea
| "IvC tried 1t In vain, but can't shut my eyes;
| For, somehow, 1t makes me 10 sorry because
| Dear papa has said there Is no Santa Claus,
Now We know there Is, and It can't be denied,
For he came every year before mamma died.
But, then, I've boon thinking that she used Il
And God would hear everything mamma wOul'
And perhaps she asked him to send Santa ClauI
with tho sacks full Of presents no brought ever!
year,"
'Wcll, why tan't VIC pay dest as mamma did then
And ask him to send him with presents alden /"
give been thinking 50, too" And without I
word more
Four little icct bounded out on the floor,
And four little knees tho soft carpet pressed,
And two tiny hands were clasped close to cacl
hFnagt
snow, Willie, you know We must firmly below
That the presents we ask for we're sure to receive
You must walt just as still till l say tho Amen,
And by that you will know that your turn hA'
"Dear Jesus, look down on my brother and me
And grant us the favor We arc asking Of Thee;
want II wax doll, tea.sct and ring,
And an ebony wOrk.bOx that shuts with spring
Bless plpa, dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That Santa Claus loves us fur better than he,
Don't let him get trCtful and angry again
| At dear brother Willie and Annie, Amen"
"Pleasc, DesuS, ct Santa Taus.tnm down tonight
And bring US some presents before 1t L. light,
want he SOuld dive me nice little sed,
With bright shinin' yunners, and all painted yedi
A box full OF tandy, u hook and a toy,
Amen and then, DesuS, I'll be doOd boy"
Their prayers being ended, they raised up theiE
And with hearts light and cheerful, again sought
their beds;
They were soon lost in Slumbcr, both peaceful
And With fairies In Drcamlaud were roaming In
Eight. nine, and tho little French clock had
struck ten,
Ere the father had thought Of his children again,
lie seems now to hear AnnIe's halfsuppressed
signs,
And 10 sec tao big tears stand in Willlc's blue
az was harsh with my darlIngs, he mentally said
~ I'M II mt hnyO gRnt Thorn GlFly to bed:
But then was trOubled-my feelings found vent.
For bank stock to-day has gone down ten per
cent
But Of coursc they've forgot their troublcs ere
this,
And that denied them tho thrice. asked for kiss;
Hut, Just 10 make sure, I'll steal up to their door,
For never spoke harsh to my darlings before"
So saying he softly assembled the stair,
And arrived at the door " hear both OF their
prayers,
Ills X6nIos ''blcss papa" draws forth the big
And WillIesgrayG.promIso falls sweet on his carr.
"Strnge, strange I'd forgotten" saId he with u
sigh,
draw nigh.
"TllalOnc for my harshness," no inwardly said,
"By answering their prayers ere sleep In my
bed"
Then he turned to the stairs and softly went down
Threw of velvet slippers and silk dressing gown,
49, - 49,
A millionaire facing tho cold driving slcct.
Nor stopped he until he had bought everything,
From the box full Of candy to the tiny gold ring;
Indeed, he kept adding 80 much 70 Ills store,
That tho various presents OutnumDrrGu score,
Then hOmUward lie turned with Ills holiday load,
And with Aunt Mary's help In tho nursery twas
stOwCd
Miss dolly was seated beneath pine tree,
BY the side or tablc spread out for her tGG;
A L. FpNtpF
And on It a ring for which Annie had prayed.
A soldier In uniiOrp stood by n sled,
with bright shining runners Rnf MI naihf'd
rCd.'
There were balls, dogs, and horses, books pleas
And birds of all colors were perchcd In the tree;
While Santa Claus, laughing, stood up In the top,
As II getting ready more presents to drop.
And as the iOnd father the picture surveyed
lie thought for his trouble he had amply boon
And he said to himself as he brushed OF a tear,
"l'm happier tonight than I've been for year,
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever before:
What care II bank stock falls ten per cent more
Hereafter III make 1t rule, | believe,
To have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas eve.
So thinking, he gently GXtlngutshGd the light
And trfppcd down the stairs to retire Tor the night
AS soon as the beams Of the bright morninGsun
Put the darkness to flight, and the stars, one by
one,
-Four little blue eyes out Of sleep opened wide,
And at the same moment the presents CspIGd.
Then out OF their beds they HprHnE with bound,
And the very gifts prayed for were all OF them
found.
They laughed and they cried in their innocent
glcC,
What presents old Santa Claus had brought In
Dust the things that they wanted and lctt before
.sAnd now" added Annie, In voice soft and low.
you'll believe there's Santa Claus, papa !
While dear little Willie climbed up Onhis knee,
Determined no secret between them should be:
And told, In soft Whispers how Annie had said
That their dear, blessed mamma, 70 long ago dead
Used to kncCl down and pray by tue Side OF her
chair.
And that God up in heaven had answered her
prayer
'.Thcn We dot up and prayt dcst as well rs We
And bod answered our prayers, now wasn't he
dOOd :"
AZ should say that he was II he sent You all these
And knew just what presents my children would
well. well let him think So the dear little elf,
'Twould be cruel to tell him did It myselCO
Blind father, who caused your stern heartto TO-
lent?
Twas the Being who bAdc you steal softly up
And made you his agent to answer their prayers.