The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-12-21
Annie and wiIIIe-s Prayer.

Tho following poem, written by Mrs. Sophia P.
Snow, is one of the most exquisitely touching and
beautiful chat have read. 1t cannot fail to
reach the hearts of all who it, besides being
peculiarly appropriate to the holidays:
Twas the before Christmas; 'Good night had
been said,
And Ami. and Willie had crspt into bed;
There were tears on their pillows, and tears In their
And each little bosom wa. heavy with signs
For tonight their stern fathers command had been
given,
That they should retire precisely at seven,
Instead of eight; for they troubled him more
With questions unheard of than before;
He had told them he thought this delnsion sin,
No such being Santa Claus ever had been,
And he hoped, after this he should hear
How he scrambled down chimpeys with presents each
And this was the reason that two httle beads
So restlessly tossed on their soft ,sowny beds.
Eight nine and the clock in he stcepe tolfed ten
Not word had been spoken BY either till then,
When WiIlie's sad face from this blanket did peep
And hispeTed- "Dsar Annie, is yon fast aslcep?"
why, no, brother Willie" q sweet voice replies,
i've tried 1t in vain. but can't shut my eyes;
For, somehow, it makes me so sorry becaufse
Dear papa has said there is no Santa Clans,
Now We know there is, and it can't be denied,
For he came every year before 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 u ofpressnts he brought every year.
| "Well, why tan't we pay just as mamma did then,
| And ask him to send him with presents adenf"
| I've been thinking so too" And without word
Four little bare feet bounded out the floor,
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed
And two tiny hands capped close each breast
snow, Willie, You know must firmly believe
That the presents we ask for were sure to receive
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 my brother and me,
And grant the favor are asking of Thee
| want a wax dolly, a tea set, and ring,
| And an ebony work box that shuts with aspiring
Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to
That Santa Claus loves us far better than he,
Don't let him get fretfa and angry again
! At dear brother Willie and Annie. Amen"
please, Desas ct Santa Taus tum down tonight,
And brings us some presents before it is light,
| want he should dive me a nice little sed,
With bright, shiny runners, and all yed;
box full of tandy a book and toy,
Amen, and then, Desus. I'll be good boy"
The prayers being ended they raised their heads
And with hearts light and cheerful again sought their
beds;
They soon lost in slumber, both peaceful and
Ard with fairies in Drean.land We're 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 10 hear Armies kalfsuppressed signs,
And sec the big tears stand in Wie's blue eyes.
81 was harsh with my darlings," he mentally said,
And should not have sent them early to bed
But then was troubIed-my feelings found vent
For bank-stock to-day has gone down ten per cent.
But of course the forgot their troubles this
And that denied them the thrice asked-for kiss
!
For never spoke harsh to my darlings before"
| So saying, he softly assembled the stairs.
And arrived at the door to hear both of their
His Armies blessed papa draws forth the big tears
And Wfllies grave promise falls sweet on his ears,
Strange strange I'd forgotten said he with sigh,
"How longed, when child, to have Christmas draw
nigh.
| III atone for my harshness, he inwardly said.
BY answering their prayers ere sleep in my bed
Then he turned to the stairs and softly down,
Threw off velvet slippers and silk dressing gown
Donned hat coat and boots and was out in the street
A m flcin tba irwin SIa
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 t6 his store,
That the various presents outnumbered score,
Then homeward he turned with his holiday load,
And with Aunt Mary aid in the nursery twas slowed
| Miss Dolly seated beneath pine tree,
| By the side of n table spread out for her tea;
work-box well filed in the centre was laid
And on it ring, for whseh Annie had prayed.
| A soldier in uniform stood by a sled,
with bright shining runners and all painted red
There were degs balls and horses books pleasing to
And birds of all coIors were percled in the tree;
While Santa Claus, laughing, stood mp 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
And he said to himself AS he brushed off tear,
'I'm happier to night than Two been for year,
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever betore-
What caro- if bank-stock falls ten per cent, more
| Hereafter I'll make it p rule, 1 believe,
70 have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas Eve
1 SO thinking, he gently extinguished the light,
And trpped down the stairs to retire for the night.
| AS coon as the beams of the bright morning
Put the darkness to light and the stars by one
Four little blue eyes out ola sleep opened wide, .
4 And at the same moment the presents espied;
Then out of their beds they sprang with a bound,
And the gifts prayed for all of them found
They laughed and they cried in their innocent gleo
| And shouted for ''papa" to quick and see
What presents old Santa Claus brought in the nigh t.
Gust the things that they wlnted) and left before
light.
"And now" added Annie, in a voice soft and low
you'll believe there's Santa Claus papa, 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 dear, blessed mamma, long ago dead,
Used to kDeel down and pray by the side of her chair
And that God up heaven had answered her prayer!
Den We dot up and prayed dust well tould,
And God answered prayers, wasn't he dood,'
81 should say that He was if ne sent you all these,
And knew just what presents my children would
please.
(Wcll we'll, let him think So the dear little elf
Twould DO cruel to tell him did it myself')
Blind father! who caused your stern heart to relen
And the hasty word spoken soon to repent, ~
Twas the Being who babe you steal softly up stairs,
And made you his agent to answer their prayers.