Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-12-28
Annie aud Wiilie's Prayer.

Annie auG wines ffaJefs
i. The following poem, written by Nrs. Sophia P.
snov, IL one Of the most exquIsitely touching and
beautiful that we aye ever read. I. cannot fail to
reach tc hearts Of all who peruse it, be.iies being
peculiarly appropriate TO the holidays:
Twas tho eve before Christina "Good night had
And Aunt, ami Willie had crept into bed
There we're their pillows, and tears In their
And each little bosom was heavy with signs
For Tonight their stern fathers command had been
That tRcy ahould retire precisely at seven,
Instead u eight; for they troubled him moro
Wit 4ge-tions unheard u than over before;
BE usl tJ!i them be thought this Geasion ain,
No ascs being Santa Clausn ever had been,
AND lc h1peJ after this, he should never more hear
H,g 10 ser4uIslea down chimneys with presents
each year.
And us was the reason that two little head,
80 rs,tlassly tossed on their soft, downy beds.
T-Q1t, nine and the clock in the steeple toed ten
Nj 8 word had been spoken by either I'll then,
When W.lhes sad face from the blanket did peep,
aud whispered, Dear Annie, is you fast asieep?"
- why no. brother Willie, p" sweet voice replies,
I've tried 1t in vain. but can't shut my eycs;
For somehow, ii makes rne 80 aorry because
Dear papa has said there IL no santa Claus.
NOV nc know ihcre IL. and 1t emit be denied,
For hc came every year before mamma died
But them I've been thinking that she nsed to pray,
And God would hear ever ything mamma would soy,
And perhaps she Gsked him to send Santa Claus
here,
With tuo sacks full Of presents he brought every
swsH, whg tant We pay just "a mamma did then,
Ana a. him 70 send him With present.. aden ?"
s'F've been thinking 50 too" And without word
Four isle bare feet bounded out on the floor,
And four little knoae the soft carpet pressed,
Ana iva tiny hands cla.psd close to each
breast
s.Noy while, You know We must firmly believe
That the presents we ask for wore 10 receive
You must wait, Just As s.ill, till say the Amen,
And by shat you win know that your turn has CONS
then"
"Dear Jesns, look down on my brother and me,
And grant us the favor We asking Of Theo;
! want a wax dolly, a tea set, and ring,
And an ebony work box thai shuts with spring;
Bless Dada dear Jesus, and cause him t. 900
That santa Claus loves far better than he,
Don't let him get fretful aud angry again
At dear brother While aud Annie. Amen
Please, Dc1lH et Santa Tans tuIn down tonight,
And bring Us some presents before It ia light,
I want he should dive me nice little sed,
with bright. shiny runners, and all painted jed
box fun Of tandy, book and toy,
Amcu and then Desua, IN DO good bow
The prayers being ended they raised mp their heads
And with hearts light and cheerful again sought
They we're soon lost In 'lupbor both peaceful and
deep,
And with fairios IN Dreaml.nd were roaming In
ssep.
Rich. nine and the little French clock had ..truci
ten
Fro tIO father had thought OF his Cnildren again:
He seems now to hear Annie's hai-suppresscd sgha
And 2 soc the big tears stand in Wlr's hlue Dyes.
IW4s hareh with my dariings," he mentally said,
Aud Rh luld not have sent them 20 early to bed,
But thuu / Nas troubled--my feelings found vent,
For bau5-stock to-day la. gone down ten per cent.
But OF d, urse the forgot their troubles this,
And th1t dcniod them thu thrice 4ksd-for kiss;
But, lust 10 mako sure, I'll steal up to their door,
For | uager spoke harsh to my darlings before"
10 say1B, he softly assembled the stair
Ard mr. we'd at the door 10 hear both Of their prayers
Nis Annie. "blte- papa draws forth the big tears,
And Wiic's grave promise falls sweet on hi. ears.
" Siraug' strange I'd forgotten" said no with q
tlFh,
"How I6ngei, whom child to have CHRISTMAS
m atone ror my harshncss, no inwardly said,
"Iy answering their prayers ere sleep 10 my bed.
Then ha turned 60 the stairs aul softly went down,
Threw of velvet Slippers aud silk dressing gown
Donual hat coat and boots, aud was out in the
stragt,
Amul.5narc facing the cold, driving slcot.
Nor stopped ne until he had bought every thing,
tr1n the box fUll Of candy to the tiny gold ring
tnG,od, no Ecpt adiing 30 much 70 his store,
That tho various proscnts nutnumborod score,
Then homeward he turned with bis holiday Load.
Ana with Aunt Marys Ait IN the nursury twas
stoWed,
Mise Dolly was seated beneath pine tree,
BY the side uf table spread out for her ten;
4 work box woll 0llod 10 the ceutro was laid,
And ou a q ring, for which Annie had prayed,
A bpllier Ia unt' urm stood by sled,
"With bright thinning runners aud al painted red
Thore wore daRs balls aud horses, books pleasing to
Ana hirl, Of an colors we're pcrchcd in tho trcc;
whtu Santa Claus, laughing, stood up in tho top,
As getting ready more presents To drop.
AMI as the fond father the picture surveyed,
lie thought Tor his trouble he had amply been paid,
And no said to himself as no brushed Off a tour,
d" I'm happier tonight than I've been for year.
I've rgIpyed more true pleasure than ever BEFORE,
Wa' are 4 hauk-stocE falls ten per no. more
H.. after f'i mako Il a rule, believe
T. have Santa CLAUS visit rs each Christmas Eve
IA .hi0tug, ue Eoutly eEiiaguishol the light,
trppea down tho stairs 70 retire for the night,
Al soon 90 the beams Of the bright morning sun
PINT tho tlrtuNss 10 flight and the eiars, one by ono
-Four Tito hue eyes out 81 aloop opened wide,
And go The same mnuout the presents espiel
Then ont ct their bodE thay sprang with bound,
And tho very its prayed for Rt of thrm found.
fhcy laughed and they cried IA thg'r ipuocopt gee
Anu shouted tor papa t. come quick and see
What presents old Santa Chus brought ip thc night
lJus the things that they wautod,l and left before
light.
- MA now, A." added Annie, in q voice soft and low,
" HopW believe there's santa CLAUS papa, SNOW -
while deer lfttlH Nillio climbed Up on his knee,
Determined no secret between them should ho;
And told, ia soft wAiepora how Annie bad said
Thai lhnlr dear. blessed mamma, 40 long ago dead,
usei 10 kuea down and pray 10y the side ot her
chair,
Ana that u5d mp in heaven had answered her prayer,
4" Don we dot pp aud paved dust a. VOL we tould,
And p'd answered on prayers, now wasRt He
d1alP"
.Isa.ll say that Ito waa Il lIc scout Won all these
And Sugw just what presoat9 my chidrea would
p'Usuc
Jwcil, welt lct him thtnk So the dear little clf,
~rVuull De cruei 60 ten him I ala Do myself ~
NinI fbherl who caused yeur stern heart to rclent.
Ana ,he hAsty word spoke - soon to reuontg
Twas the Being Who hair yuu steal SOFTLY up stajr
tHd madc you his gent 90 answer their prayers