Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-05
ANNIE AND WILLIE,s PRAHER

ANNIE AND WILLIE'S PRAYER
By MRS. SOPHIA P. SNOW.
| Twas the eve before Christmas; "aood night
had been said,
| And Annie and Willis had crept into bed:
There were tears on their pillows; and tears In
And each little bo,om wss heavy With siehs-
For tonight their stern fathers command had
| That they should retire precisely at seven,
Instead Of eight; for they troubled him more
With questions unheaId OF, than ever before:
He had told them he thought this delusion q sin,
No such being ss "Santa CLAUS" ever had been
hear
How he scrambled down chimneys with presents
And this was the reason that two little heads
So restlessly tossed on their soft, downy beds
Eight, nine, and the clock on the steeple tolled
ten;
Not word had been spoken by either till then.
When Willies sad face from the blanket did peep
And whispered, "DeAr Annie, is you fast asleepS"
"Why, no, brother Willie" sweet voice replies,
i've tried 1t in vain, but can't shut my eyea:
For, somehow, 1t makes me so sorry because
Dear pspa has said there is no Santa Claus;'
NOW we know there In, and II can't be denied.
For he came every year before dear mamma died
But then, I've been thinking that she used to pray
And God would hear everything mamma would
say.
And perhaps she asked him to send Santa Claus
here,
With the sacks full of presents he brought every
year"
well, why tant we pay dest as mamma did then,
And ask him to send him with presents aden?"
I've Deen thinking so, too" And without word
Four little bare feet bounded ont on the floor.
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed,
And two tiny hands were clasped close to each
breast
Snow, willie, you know we must firmly believe
That the presents we ask for we're sure to receive
You must wait just as stu till say the Amen
And oS 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 are asking Of Thee;
l want wax dolly, tea set and ring,
and an ebony work-box that shuts with q spring;
Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That Santa Clans loves us far better than ne,
Don't let him get fretful and angry again
At dear brother Willie and Annie, Amen"
please Desus, ct Santa Taus tum down tonight,
And bring US some presents before il Is Light,
I want he should dive me 3 nice little sed,
With bright shinnin' runners, and all painted yed
box full Of tandy, q book and toy,
Amen, and then, Desus, III be dood boy"
Their prayers being ended, they raised up their
heads,
They were soon lost in slumber, both peaceful
and deep,
And with fairies in Dreamland we're roaming in
sleep,
Eight, nine, and the little French clock had struck
Ere the father had thought of his children again:
he seems now to hear Annies half suppressed
signs,
And to see the big tears stand in wiIlie's blue
eyes.
81 was harsh with my darlings - he mentally said.
And should not have sent them SO 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 ssked kiss.
But, just to make sure Ill steal up to the door
FOR never spoke harsh to my darlings BEFORE
So saying, be softly assembled the stairs,
And arrived az the door to hear both their pravers
His Annie's bless papa" draws forth the big
tears,
And Willies grave promises fall sweet on his ears.
"strange, strange I'd forgotten" said he with q
"HOw longed, when child, to have Christmas
draw nigh.
''Iu atone for my harshnsss," he iuwardIy said,
"By answering their prayers, ere sleep in my
Then he turned to the stairs and softly went
down,
Threw off velvet slippers and silk dressing gown
Donned hat, coat and boots, and was out in the
street,
millionaire facing the cold driving slees,
Nor stopped until he had bought everything.
From the box full Of candy to the tiny gold ring;
Indeed, he kept adding so much to his store
That the various presents outnumbered q score;
Then homeward he turned with his holiday load
And with Aunt Mary's help, in the nursery twas
Miss dol y was seated benea tn pine tree,
By the side Of a table spread out for her tea;
A work-box well filed, in the center was laid,
And on it a ring for which Anna had prayed;
soldier in uniform stood by sled,
with bright-shinning runners, and all painted
red:
There were balls, dogs and horzes, books pleasing
And birds Of all coors we're perched in the tree:
While Santa CLAUS, laughing, stood up in the top,
AS If getting ready more presents to drop,
And as the fond father the picture SURVEYED,
He thought for his trouble he had amply been
paid;
I'm happier tonight than I've been for year,
I've enjoyed more true leisure than ever before;
What care if bank stock falls ten per cent more!
Hereafter Ill make it a rule, believe
10 have Santa Claus visit US each Christmas Eve"
So thinking, he softly e1tinguished the light
And tripped down the stairs to retire for the
night.
As soon as the beams of the bright morning sun
Put the darkness to flight, and the stars, enc by
ons
Four little blae eyes out of sleep open wide,
And at the moment the presents espied.
Then out Of their beds thsy sprang with bound,
And the very gifts prayed for were all of them
found.
and shouted for papa" to come quick and
see
What presents old Santa Claus brought in the
Dust the things that they ,uanted) and lef: be-
fore light,
And now" added Annie, in a Voice soft and
low,
you'll believe there's Santa Claus, papa, I
know"
While dear little Willie climbed up on his
knee,
Determined no secret between them should be,
And told, in soft whispers, how Annie had said
That their aear, blessed mamma, so long ago
dead,
Used to kneel down and pray by the side of her
chair,
And that God up in Heaven had answered her
prayer;
"Then we dot up and prayed dus. as well as we
tOuld
And bod answered our prayers, now wasn't He
dcOd2"
81 should say that He was, if He sent you all
these,
And knew Just what presents my children
would please.
We'll we'll, let him think so, the dear little elf,
'TwOuld be cruel to tell him did it myself.')
Blind father! Who caused your stern hssrt to
relent7
And the hasty word spoken so soon to rspent7
Twas the Being who babe You steal softly up
stairs,
And made you His scent to answer their pray