Connecticut western news., 1871-12-22
3 Annie and Wnlie's Prayer.
atH t'i tsAtb 2 A@kA=t'f BY MRS. SOPHIA P. sNoYol

.2b7ev Annie and Wmle's Prayer. '5Hal
 BY MRS. SOPHIA P. sNowoG sf 5ndv Twas the eve before Christmas s Good d-night' And Annie and Willie had crept into bed;h 9.
 There were tears on their pillows, and tears ir And each little bosom vas heayine with isishs For tonight their stern fathers command had
 sss been givenlal essd3 To aIT0 naiP sa i1 That they should retire precisely at seven aa Instead of at eight for they troubled him more Heihad told them he thought this delusion . No such creature aa i" Santa Glsuss had ever And he hoped. after shis he 2aRhs should m How he scrambled down, chinneys with pres.
 enJs eacn year. t9n1l NIsetist SAi5 l And this was the reason two little heads B
 So restlessly tossed on their soft, downy beds, Eight, nine, and the clock on tha steeple tolled Not word had been spoken by either till linen, When Wilhe's sad face from l the blanket q did And whispered. d'sDsar Annie, is 'ou fast Why, no, brother. Yillie, VII . sweet voice re- I've tried long in vain, but canSbhur my eyes, For somehow it makes me 50 sorry because ! Dear papa has said therc is no Santa Clans. 3 Now we know there is, and 1t can't be denied, For he came every year before mamma died But then, I've been thinking, that she used to And God would hear everything that mamma And nssSs SSa s5s ss ssssa him .e send s.a.A Claus wishthe sack fuIl of presents he brought every "wslt why ssns we Y: dust lust # nannma '.,s m did And ask bod to send him with presents adenq' Eve been thinking so too,"a and without .
 word more.s aT0I H19ssA1 IT.
 Four little bare feet bounded out on the floor, And four little knees the soft carpet press'd,
 And two tiny hands were clasped close to each
 vd breast! a alt noff .asSav dallSf, Now, wH1ie, yoa know RaSas aSas must ArnB believe, That the presents weiask for we're ahfe to re- You must wait just as stu tn Isay sAmsn,f And by that . you ' win know thft yopr r turn has Dear Jesus, look down on my brother and And grant us the favor ve are asking of thee e4' I want wax dolly, . tea set, and ting,,A g1n4s And an ebony vork-bcxS that shuts with q Bless Papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to zee rs That Santa Claus loves tis as much as does he; Don't let him get fretf@ and angry again IT. z At dear brother Wlliis and Annie. Amens" tfi "Piease, Desas, ct, santa Taus, ,tum down b., And bine us some pesents bsfor it,s light is''S l want he should div me q nice title sed, ao'al With bright shinin unners, aud all painted reda box full of tandy, . book. and To soy, i.li v1s Amen, and teen, Desus, I'll be . dood boy. 5. Their prayers being ended they raised up then And. l with hsas.s, .s light and cheerful. again They wers soon lost in slumbsr,, bSth pesoetul And with fairies in .dreamland were roaming in
 steep. 1o 4fa IfodB 1stanftab siii sgo Eight. nine. and the little French clock had Ere the father @ had thought Of bis children Hesee@s now to hear Annia's half oppressed Andiss see the big tears stand in willis,s blue ''1 was harsh with my d.rnngs," be mentally, "And should not have sent them -ss early so
 bed; M fa9sfa1 af ilsEgIa4d sasIf But thea I vas troubled my feelings found For bank stock so- day has gone dss'a ten psr: But of ooqrse they've forgotten their troubles And sSss ss "a denied them the But just to make sure, I'll sseaa ap to their For never spoke harsh to my darlipgs before. !. and srssa < so Ss sos soSsnssf hs sas their His Ahnis's Il Bless papAsdrs~ sorshts big And whass grave pro ps,ooniss i,s ssa .sss. sn h,. "ssrangs- strange-rd forsotssn...' said he4 How ionged when sohila to have ohrisspas "1n atone foor F ny harshhssssss. :. h. inraEEdily By answering their prayers ere sleep in my
 .3laaI ls sTots0si
 Then hs turned ts the stairs and seftly vent Threw of velvet slippers ana sila dressing
 gown, gras8sI 16 h8aS 94lf llo 5s,d3 Ty.tI DOnnsa hat. coat. and, bossa. aud was out In Nor stopped Re untii he had bousht every thing, From the box fall ofcandy tO the my gold Indeed Se kept .ddiag so much s se bis nk s.or.
 That t6evaaicus prossnis E outnnmbsred @ m @ score. Then homeward hs turned, when his holiday with, Aunt Mary's. hslp tin. the nursery was, By the aide Of . table spread G out i for hsf tea
 A work-box well filled in tho centre wAS laid. \ And on 1t the ring for which Annie; had prayedsi A soldier in uniform stood hy sled,st,a 9o sa1 With M 6Tsght shining runnerS end al paintsd There were balls, dogs and horses, books pleas ing to see aos. sBof1ea 5soei afit I I And birds of an oolors were perched in tho tree; "hiie San Santa olaus' laughing, stood pp in the As if getting ready mosAe ipSessnss, to drop. bea And as the fond father the pibture surveyed9 l He thought for his trouble he he'd amply been And he said to himself, as hs brushed oa : '" I'm happier tonight than Tvs been for . year, I've enjoyed more tEue pleasure thaa ever be- What care if bank stock faiis Zen ten per ss cent.
 moro aG B6sEss afIeFs v 7l'1ss5 Hereafter, r1 1make it rule, I believe, 9iEiaI To have Santa Clans visit ns eaoh Christmas Sc thinking he gently extinguished the light.
 And. tripping down stairs, retired for the night As soon IS the beams Of the bright morning Put the darkness to flight, and the stars one Four Ittle blue eyes out cf sleep opeaed vide. And at the same moment the presents espied. Then out Of their beds they sprang with