The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-12-25
ANNIE AND WILLIE's PRAYER.


There were tears on their pillows, and tears II
knd0Aeh little bosom was heaving with sIghs.
For TO night thclr stern hthoT'B command hal
been given,
That they should retire precisely at seven,
Instead Of At eight; for they troubled him NOR
with questions unheArd OF, than ever before;
lie told them he thought this dGusiOn u sin,
No such being rs Santa Claus ever had been,
Andhe hoped, after this, he should nevermCr
hear
How he scrambled down chimneys with present.
each yoar. H
Aud this was the reason that twolttle heads
so restlcssly tossed on their soft, dOwny beds.
Eight, nine, and the clock on the steeplG tolled
ten;
Not word had been spoken by either TIL then
When Willie's sad face from the blanket die
peep,
why, no, brother Willie" u SWeet voice replies
I've tried In vain, bat can't shut my eyes,
For somehow It makes me 30 sorry because
Dear papa has said there " no Santa Claus, y
Now, wekn0w there y, and Il cAn'tb denied, :
For he came every ycer beioro mamma died
But then, Two been thinking lhAt Aho used 4
pray,
And God would hear everything mamma would
say
And perhaps she asked him to send Santa Claus
here p
With The sack full of presents he brought every
year"
well, why tAn't we p'Gy dcst as mamma did then,
And ask God 70 send him with presents alden ~
i've been thinking 80 too" and without a
word moro.
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed,
And two tiny hands were Casped close TO each
breast,
Nov, Willie, yon know We must Grmly believe
That the presents we ask for we're sure to re.
You must walt last as stlll, TN gay the Amen
And by this you will know that your turn has
Dear Jesus, look down on my brother and mo,
And grant rs the favor WeRro seeking OF thec.
| want = wax dolly, . tOa.sOt and FiHg,
Aud an ebony workbox that shuts with q spring;
Bless papa, dear Jesus, and Cause him To soc
That SANTA Claus lOV0l Us far better than he: %
DOn'tlet him get Iettal aud angry again -
Al dear brother WillIeAnd Annie. KmSn,W -l
please Dcsus, ct Santa Taus tum down TO.
night,
And bling us some p'esents before II Is light,
| want he should dive me nice little H'ed,
With blight shinin' 'unnels, aud all painted ed;
box full Of tandy, book and toy,
Amen, aud don, Deeus, III DO . dOOd boy"
Their prayers being ended, tIicy raised up their
heads,
And with hearts light and cheerful, again sought
They were soon lost in shmbCr both peaceful
And with hlflss in dreamlAnd were roaming in
Right, nlaS, and the little French clock had
Erc the father had thought Of his children again;
lie seems now To hear AnhIe's half suppressed
signs,
And to sec the big teArS stand in WlllIOs blue
~ was hHrsh with my dArlingS," he mentally
And should not have sent them so carly TO bed.
Una al ms Eaa Gntta
For bank stock to-day has gone down ten per
But Of course they've forgot their troubles ere
And that t'denled them the thrice asked for kiss;
For never spoke harsh 10 my daFlings before. "
30 saying, he softly assembled the stairs, vi
And arrived at tho door to hear both OF their
Ills Annfcs @blcss papa draws forth tho big
And Whites grave promise falls sweet on his
ears.
strange, strange I'd forgotten, said he, with a
Hgh,
"IIow lOngGdi when child to have Christmas
m atone for my harshncss," he lnwardly said,
by answering their prayers ere sleep in my
Then he turnGd'to tho stairs and softly went
down,
Threw oil velvet slippers and silk dressing.
Donned hat, coat, and boots, and was out In the
street,
A millionaire facing the cold, driving slCct.
Nor stopped no until he had bought everything,
From box full Of candy to tho tiny gold ring.
Indeed, he kept adding 20 much TO his store,
That the various presents OutnumbGTCd 0 score.
Then hOmCwarl he turned with his holiday load,
Aud with Aunt Mary's help In the nursery twas
slowed,
Miss Dolly was seated beneath pine tree.
Blythe sldO OF table, spread ont for her tea,
A wOrkOOI In the center was laid,
And on II a ring, for which Annie had prayed.
A soldier In uniform stood by q sled,
with bright shining runners, and all painted
There, were balls, dogs, and houses, books pleas.
Ing TO see,
And birds Of all colorS were pcrched In tho tree,
while Santa Claus, laughing, stood up in the top,
As II getting ready more presents To drop.
And a. tho fond father the picture surveyed,
lie Thought for his trouble he'd amply been paid
And no said to himself, as he brushed of tear,
"lm happier tonight than I've been for year
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever DO.
lore
What care II bank stock fail tet per cent noreS
Hereafter III make 1t rule, believe,
To have Santa Claus visit Us each Christmas
Rve" .. .H. H
so thinking he gently extiBguished the light
And trlpped down the stairs to retire for tho
Az soon as the beams OF tho bright morning sun |
Put the darkness 10 flight, and the stars, one by |
one,
-Four little blue eyes out Of sleep opened wide,
And At the same moment the presents egplCd. |
Then out OF their beds they eprang with bound,
And the very gifts prayed for were all Of them
They laughed and they cried in their innocent
gee, ....u. II
What hvnaonia nII Hania T1aua hFnuUhk in iha |
Dust ihc things tina: they wAutcd) and len be.
and now, added Annie, In voice son and
low, ......I- |
You'll believe there's a Santa Claus, papa,
While dear little Willie climbed up on his knee
Determined 40 secret between them should DO,
And told. In soft whispers, how Annie had eald
That their blessed mamma, 30 long ago dead,
Used to Eneel down and pray BY the side OF her
And that dod, up in heaven, had answered her
prayer.
Then ws dot up and prayed dest as we'll as we
tOuld, I.r
And Dod answered cur prayers. Now, wasn't he
az should ray that he was, u he sent you all
these,
Aud knew Just what presents my children would
please. .l"
(WCll, well, let him think 30, tho dear little elf
.Twou'd be Cruef TO tell him did 1t myselL"J
Blind father Who caused your stern heart to
rtlent, L.
And the hasiy words spoken 40 soon to repentf
Twas the Being who bado you steal softly up
stairs, .
And made you his agent to answer their prayers.
....
The Night Before Christmas
THE following piece Of doggercl, sent
lis by an unknown correspondent, Is so
bad rs to be positively good.l
II was the night before Christmas, and
Fan and Maria hung up their stockings
close by the fire; Tor they knew that old
Santa Claus, OIL his white steed, would
come down the chimney with the greatest
Of speed. .. Del I... Liza.