The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1872-12-21
ANNIE AND WILLIE.
HOW A PRAYER WAS ANSWERED.
BY MRS. SOPHIA P. SNOW.

'Twas the eve before Christmas; "Good night" had
And Annie and Willie had crept into bed;
There tears their pillows and tears their eyes,
And each little bosom was heavy with sghs-
For tonight their stern fathers commands had been
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 thing as "Santa Claus" ever had been,
And he hoped, after this he should nevermore hear
How he scrambled down chimneys with presents 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 seeple tolled ten
Mot W %a Had osen spoken oxen 9y either tn then
And whispered, "Dear Annie, is you fast asleep i,i
''Why, no, brother Willie," sweet voice replies
''rve tried it in van but can't shut my eyes :
For, somehow, it makes me sorry because
Dear papa has said there is no "Santa Clause'
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 every thing mamma would saw
And perhaps she asked Him to send Santa Claus here
swell, why tant we pay dest as mamma did then,
And ask Him to send him with presents alden ?"
"rve been thinking too" And withouta word more
Four little bare feet bounded out the floor,
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed,
And two tiny hands casped close to each breast
SNOW, Willie, you know we must firmly believe
That the presents we ask for we're to receive
You must wait just as still till 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 a wax doll, a tea set and ring,
And an ebony box that shuts with a spring,
Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That Santa Claus loves far better then he,
Don't let him get fretful and angry again,
At dear brother Willie and ANNIE amen.n
"Pease, Desus, ct Santa Taus tum down tonight,
And bring some presents before it is light,
want he sould dive nice little sed,
With bright shinin runners, and all painted yed
box full of tandy, book and toy,
Amen, and then Desus I'll be a dood boy.o
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 deep
And with fairies in dreamland ing in Sleep
Eight nine, and the little French clock had ten
Ere the father had thought of his children again
He seems now to hear Annie's halfsuppressed sighs
And to the big tears stand in Wie's blue eyes.
81 was harsh with my darlings," he mentally said,
"And should not have sent them so early to bed
And 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 this
And that denied them the thrice-asked- for kiss
But just to make sure, III steal up to their door,
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 prayers
His Annies "bess papa'' draws forth the big tears
sase e wis
"How longed, when child, to have Christmas draw
nigh.
| I'll atone for my harshness" he inwardly said,
"By answering their prayers ere sleep in my bed"
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,
A millionaire facing the cold, driving sleet,
Nor stopped he until he had bought everything,
From the box full of candy to the tiny gold ring;
Indeed, he kept adding much to his store,
That the various presents outnumbered score,
| Then homeward he turned with his holiday load,
And with Aunt Marys help in the nursery twas stowed
Miss dolly was seated beneath pine tree,
| By the side of a table spread out for her tea;
work box well-filled in the center was laid,
Aphoa arfn ruhf Ann had
soldier in uniform stood by a sled,
"Wih bright shining runners and all painted red"
Inere were balls dogs and horses books pleasing to see
And birds of all colors were perched in the trees
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.
| And he said to himself as he brushed off tear
| Pm happier tonight than Ive been for year,
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever before.
What care if bank stock falls ten per cent. more
| Hereafter I'll make it rule, believe.
To have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas eve.
| SO thinking, he gently extinguished the light,
And trpped down the stairs to retire for the night
As soon as the beams of the bright morning
Put the darkness in flight and the stars, by one
| Four little blue eyes out of sleep open wide,
And at the same moment the presents espied.
Then out of their beds they sprang with bound,
And the very gifts prayed for all of them found.
They laughed and they CRIED in their innocent glee
And shouted for "papa' to come quick and see
What presents old Santa Claus brought in the night
Just the things that they wanted and left before night
| And now,'' added Annie, in a voice soft and low,
you'll believe there's Santa Claus, papa, know y
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 so long ago dead,
Used to knee 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 dest well tould
And bod answered our prayers now wasn't He dood 2?
81 should say that He was fhe sent you all these,
And knew just what presents my children would please
well, well, let him think So the dear little elf
| Twould be cruel to tell him l did it myself"
Blind father who caused your stern heart to reent
| And the hasty word spoken so to repent
Twas the Being who babe you steal softly up stairs,
| And made you His agent to answer their prayers.