Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-12-21
ANNIE AND WiLIIYs PRAYER.

The following poem, written by Mrs SOPHIA
p. SNOW, is one of the most eXquisitely touch
ing and beautiful that We have ever read. 1t
cannot fail to reach the hearts of all who pc
ruse it, besides being peculiarly appropriate
to the holidays:
Twas the eve before Christmas; s.Good night
had been said.
And Annie and Willie had crept into bed;
There were tears on their pillows, and tears in
And each little bosom was heavy with sighs-
For to night their stern fathers command had
/ been given,
That they should retire precisely at seven,
Instead of eight; forsthey troubled him more
With questions unheard of than ever before;
| He had told them he thought this delusiOn a
sin,
No such being as "Santa Claus" ever had been,
And ne hoped after this he should never more
hear
How he scrambled down chimneys with pres
ents each year.
And this is 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 Willie's sad face from the blanket did
peep,
asleep?''
"Why, no, brother Willie," a sweet voice re-
| plies,
"Pve tried it in vain but can't shut my eyes; !;
|
Dear papa has said there is no santa Claus;'
Now we know there is, and it can't be denied,
For he came every year before mamma died;
But then,t tI'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,
"weli, why tan't we pay dest as mamma did
And ask Him to send him with presents aden2"
"Fve been thinking so, too" And without u
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. W lille. .you know We must firmly believe
That the presents we ask for we're sure to re-
| ceive;
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 are asking of Thee;
| | want a wax dolly, tea set and ring.
And an ebony work box that shuts with a
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.
| At dear brother Willie and Annie, Amen"
PLEASE, Desus, 'et Santa Taus tum down to
night,
And bring us some presents before it is light,
! want he should dive me nice little sed,
With bright, shiny runners, and ali painted
A box full of tandy, book aud toy,
Amen, and then, Desus, I'll 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 peaceful
And with fairies in Dreamland were roaming
in sleep.
Eight, nine. and the little French clock had
struck ten,
Ere the father. had thought of his children
again,
He seems now to hear Annie's half-suppressed
sigh,
And to see the big tears stand in willic's blue
81 was harsh with my darlings," he mentally
said,
- And should not have send them so early to
But then 1 was troubled-my feelings found
For bank-stock day has gone down ten per
But Of course they've forgot their troubles ere
And that denied them the thrice -asked-for
But, just to. make snre, pll steal up to their
door,
For never spoke harsh to my darlings before,
So saying, he softly ascended the stairs,
And arrived at the door to hear both Of their
prayers.
His Annie's bless papa draws forth the big
tears,
"strange, strange I'd forgotten" said he with
Il sigh,
"How longed, when child, to have Christ
mas draw nigh.
PI atone for my harshncss." he inwardly said,
bed.''
Then he turned to the stairs and sofly went
Threw OF velvet slippers and silk dressing
gown
Donned hat, coat-and boots, and'was out in the
street,
A millionaire facing the cold driving sleet.
Nor stopped he until he had bought every thing,
From the box full of candy to the tiny gold
ring;
Indeed, he kept adding so much to his store,
That the various presents out numbered score,
Then homeward he turned with his holiday
load,
And with Aunt, Mary's aid in the nursery
twas slowed;
Miss dolly was seated beneath pine tree.
By the side of table spread out for her tea;
A wOrk-bOX well filled in the centre was laid,
And on it ring, for which Annie had prayed.
soldier in uniform stood by IL sled,
with bright shining runners all painted red"
There were balls, dogs and horses, books pleas
ing to see,
And birds of colors were perched in the tree;
While Santa Claus, laughing stood up in the
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.
And he said TO himself as he brushed of a tear
"Im happier to- might than Ive been for a
year.
I've enjoyed more true pleasure, than ever be-
What care if bank-stock falls ten per cent
more!
Hereafter Pll make it a rule, believe,
To have Santa Claus visit us each christmas
Eve.
So thinking, he gently extinguished 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, one
by one,
Four little blue eyes out of sleep opened wide,
And at the same moment the presents espied,
Then out Of their beds they sprang with u
bound,
And the very gifts prayed for were all of them
They. laughed and they cried in their innocent
And shouted for "papa" to come quick and see
What presents old Santa Claus brought in the
night,
tJust The things that they. wanted, } );and left
before light.
Sand now," added Annie, sin .a.voice soft and
you'll believe there's Santa Claus, papa,
know;
While dear. little Willie climbed up. on his
Determined no secret between them should be;
And told, in soft Whispers how Annie had said
That their dear, blessed mamma SO ilOng,. 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 payed dust as well as we
tould,
And bod answered our prayers, now wasn't he
dood?'
81 should say that He was, if He sent you all
these,
And knew just what presents my children
would please.
well. 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 heart to
relentY
| And the hasty word spoken SO soon to repent?
Twas the Being who babe you steal softly up
stairs
And made .tyou His agent to answer their
PRAYERS.