Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-12-25
@ HR . II NJ A ..
ANNIE AND wILLIE's PRAYER.
BIZ MRS. SOPHIA P. sNoI

| their eyes,
And each little bosom was heaving with s;ighs,
For tonight their stern fathers command had
That they should retire precisely at seven,
Instead of eight; for they troubled him more
| With questions unheard of than ever before;
He had told them he thought this delusion sin,
| No such being as Santa Claus" ever had been,
| And he hoped, after this he never should hear
| How he scrambled down chimneys with pres
ents each year.
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
Not word had been spoken by either till then,
When Willie's sad face from the blanket did
peep.
And whispered, Dear Annie, is you fast
"Why, no, brother Willie, a sweet voice replies,
i've tried it in vain, but can't shut my eyes;
For, somehow, it makes me SO sorry because
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 mama died;
But, then Eye been thinking that she used to
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." 60
well, why tant we pay dest as mamma did
then,
And ask him to send him with presents aden ?"
I've been thinking so, too" And without a
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
breasi. s. 4
"Now Willie, you know We must firmly be-
That the presents We ask for we're sure to re-
ceive;
You must wait just as still till l say the Amen
And by that you will know that your turn has
come them"
Dear Jesus look down on my brother and me,
And grant US the favor we are asking Of Thee;
want wax dolly, a tea set and ring, Z
And an ebony work-box that shuts with
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, ct Santa Taus tum down to-
night
And bring Us some presents before it is light;
/ want he should dive me q nice little sed,
With bright, shiny runners. and all painted
A box full Of tandy, book and 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 slumbcr, both peaceful
and deep, k
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 her Annie's half-suppresSed
sighs,
And to sec the big tears stand in Willic's blue
II was harsh with my darlings," he mentally
said,
"And should not have sent them so early to
But then l was troubled-my feelings found
For bank stool, to-day has gone down ten per
cent
But of course they've forgot their troubles ere
this
And that L denied them tho thrice-asked>for
But. just to make sure. I'll 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,
AMI Willies grave promise falls sweet on his
Strange, strange. I'd forgotten" said he with
"How longed, when a'chld, to have Christ
mas draw nigh"
"Tll atone for my harshness, he inwardly
said,
"By answering their prayers ere sleep in my
my bed"
Then he turned to the stairs and softly went
down
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 seet;
Nor stopped he until he had brought 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 outnumbered score;
Then homeward he turned with his holiday
load,
And with Aunt Mary aid in the nursery it was
stored;
Miss dolly was seated beneath a pine tree,
By the side of table spread out for her tea
work box well filled in the center was laid,
And on it ring, for which Annie had prayed.
A soldier in uniform stood by sled,
with bright shining runners and all painted
There we're balls, dogs and horses, books pleas
ant to see.
And birds of all colors were perched in the
tree;
While Santa Claus, laughing, stood up in the
As if getting ready more presents 10 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,
"T nj happier to>night than I've been for a year,
Eve enjoyed moro true pleasure than ever be-
fore.
What care if bank stock falls ten per cent.
more!
GREATER I'll make it rule believe,
To have SantQ Clans visit each ChrlStmaS
Even
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 fight, andthe 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
bound
And the very gifts prayed for were all OF them
found.
Thev Ian uOhel and they cried in their innocent