The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-12-24
stFhccGtug gsNister.
Terms, by Mail, in Advance
DAILY REGISTER.
ANNIE AND wILLlE's PRAYER.

Vi sl WHO peruss IL, besides being peculiar
ly appropriate to the holidays: -
Twas the eve before Christmas: GOOD
night" had been said,
And Annie and Willie had crept into bed
Ihere were tears on their pillows, ana tears
And each little bosom was heavy with
sighs- 49,
For tonight their stern fathers command
had been given,
Instead OF eight; for they troubled him
With questions unheard OF than ever be-
fore:
He had told them he thought this delusIon
No such being as Santa Claus" ever had
been,
And he hoped, after this, he should never
more hear
How he scrambled down chimneys with
presents each year.
And this was the reason that two little
heads
80 reStlessly tossed on their soft, downy
beds.
Eight, nine, and the clock on the steeple
Not word had been spoken by either till
then,
When Willie's sad face from the blanket did
peep,
And WHISPERED, Dear Annie, is you fast
aSleep?"
"why, no, brother WILLIE" sweet voice
replies,
"I've tried 1t in vain, but can't shut my
eyes;
For. somehow. 1t makes me SO sorry be.
Daar papa has said there is no SANTA Claus: :
Now we know there is, and it can't be de-
MED,
For he came every year before mamma
But then, I've been thinking that she used
10 pray,
And Cod would hear everything mamma
would say,
And perhaps she asked him to send Santa
Claus here,
With the sack full of presents he brought
every year"
"Weq, why tan't We pay dest as mamma
And ask him to send him with presents
aden?'
1--WE been thinking so too" And without
word more
Four little bare feet bounded out on the floor,
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed,
And two tiny hands were clasped close to
each breast.
Now, Willie, you know We must firmly be-
lieye
That the presents we ask for we're sure to
receive;
You must wait just as still till say the
'Amen,
And by that you will know that your turn
has come then"
Dear Jesus, look down on my brother and
me,
And grant us the favor we're asking Of
Thee;
1 want a wax dolly, tea-Sct and ring,
And an ebony wOrk-bOX that shuts with
spring;
Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That Santa Claus loves us far better than he
Don't let him get fretful and angry again
Al dear brother Willie and Annie Amen !"
Please, DeSuS, ct Santa TauS tum down to-
night,
Ana bring us some presents before 1t is ight
/ want he should dive me nice little Sod,
with bright, shiny runners, and all painted
yed;
4 box full of tandy, a book and a toy,
Amen, and then, Desus, III be good boy.
Their prayers being ended, they raised up
their heads,
And with hearts light and cheerful again
sought their beds;
They were soon lost in slumber, both peace
iul and deep,
And with fairies in DrGamland were roam
Eight, nine, and the little French clock had
struck ten,
Ere the father had thought of his children
He seems now to hear a nnie's half-suppres-
Sed signs, ~
And TO sye the big tears stand in Willie's
blue eyes.
Twas harsh with my darlings," he mental
~ said,
and should not have sent them 50 early to
bed;
But then was troubled-my feelings found
vent,
For bank-stock to-day has gone down ten
per cent.
But OF course they've forgot their troubles
ere this.
And that / denied them the thrice-asled-
But, lust to make sure, I'll steal up to their
For never spoke harsh to my darlings be-
FORE
So saying, he softly assembled the stairs,
their prayers. a.
His Armies "bleSs papa" draws forth the
big tears,
And Wiiiie's grave promise falls sweet ON
strange, strange I'd forgotten, said he with
How ionged, when n child, TO have Christ
mas draw nigh
"Ili atone for my harShness," he inwardly
said,
by answering their prayers ere sleep in
my bed"
Then he turned to the stairs and softly went
down,
Threw or velvet slippers and silk dressing
DonnCd hat, coat and boots, and was out in
4 millionaire facing the cold, driving sleet.
Nor stopped he until be had bought every
thing, .,,,
Indeed, he kept adding so much to Ms store,
That the various presents outnumbereu Il
score, So,
Then bomeward he turned with his holiday
load, .....,.,.
CTR mi
Miss dolly was seated beneath pine tree,
nv the siieoi a table spread out for her tea
4 wOrk-bOx well filed in the centre WAS
laid, " .,, I'D
\ soldier i'm uniform stood by a sled,
with bright shining runners aud all paint
ed red" -. ~,
There were balls, dogs and horses, books
And birds Of ali colors were perchcd in the
While santa Claus, laughing, stood up inthe
top -.,- a., ,,,,,
And az fhe fond father the picture surveyed,
Um Thought for his trouble he had amply
been paid, ,,,,,,,, Of q
tear, 49,, r,r q,
year. .
/ I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever
before, .
What care ii bank stock fallsten percent
more!
Hereafter I'll make II a rule, believe,
. To have Santa Claus visit us each ChflSItiiaS
Eve. -,
50 thinking, he gently extinguishcd the
light
( And Tripped down the stairs to retire fort the
/ night.
! As soon as the beams OF the bright morning
sun
( Put the darkness to blight, and the stars, one
by one, -,
-Four little blue eyes out of sleep opened
wide,
And at the same moment the presents es'
/ - pied, -,
Then out Of their beds they spranS with a
bound,
And, the very gifts prayed for were all Of
them found.
They laughed and they cried in their inno'
cent glee,
And shouted for papa" to come quick and
see
What presents old Santa Claus brought In