The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-12-24
Annie and Willie's Prayer.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

,Twas the night before Christmas, "Good night,
And annie and Willie had crept into bed;
There were tears their pillows and tears In their
And each little bosom was heaving with signs,
Forto-night their stern fathers command nao oeen
That t E,eyr sbould retire precisely at seven,
Instead Of at eight; for they troubled him more
with questions unheard Of than ever pe'ofe;
He had told them he thought this de.usion SIN,
No such icing as Santa Claus nau 1ysr eve,
How he Scrambled down chimneys, with presents,
AMI this was the reason that two little heads,
So restlessly tossed on their soft downy beds,
Eight nine and the clock the steeple tolled ten
Not word had been spoken by either tiii snen;
When wille's sad face from the blanket did peep
And whispered, "Dear Annie 10 you last asicepf
"Why no, brother wilhe'' a sweet voice replies,
i've tried all in vain, but can't close my eyes,
For somehow 1. makes me so sorry because
Dear papa has sal there is no Santa Claus.
Now we know that there is. and 1t can't be denied
For he came every year before dear mamma died
But then I've b en- thinking that she used 70 pray
Anu God would hear every thing mamma wouif
And ne fhaps she asked him to send Santa Claus
here" -,
"WelI WHY tan't we nav dest asmamma did then
And ask bod TO send him with presents aden?"
ssTye been thin ling So too," and Sc without word
Four little feet bounded out on to the floor,
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed,
And two tiny hands were clasped close to eact
ssNow Willie yo. know we must firmly believe
That the presents W. ask for we're sure to receive
You must wait ju.t as still till say the Amen
And by that you will know that your turn has
"Dear Jesus look down on my broth'r and me
And grant us the favors We are asking Of Thee.
want wax doll, tea-set and ring,
l. 1.nxr fI.ns 70 xEi n n inn
Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That Santa Claus loves us lar better than he;
Don't let him get fretful and angry agaid
AT dear brother Willie and Annie, Amen"
please, Desus, ct Santa Taus tum down tonight
And bng us some presents before 1t Is light.
want he should div me nice little sled,
With blight shinin'unnc and all painted ed;
A box full of tandy, a book and toy;
Amen-and then, Desus, III be a good boy"
Their prayer being ended they raised up thei
And with hearts light and cheerful, again sough
They were were soon lost in sumber, both peaceful ant
And with fairies in Dreamland were roaming il
Eight nine, and the little French clock had strucl
Ere the father had thought of his children again;
He seemed now to hear Annie's half suppressed
signs,
And 70 See the big tears stand in Willies blue eye
II was harsh with my darlings," he mentally said
Sand should not have sent them so early to bed;
But then was troubled my feelings found vent,
For bank stock to-day has gone down ten per-cen
But of course they've forgotten thsir troubles err
And that denied them the thrice asked for kiss
hut just to make sure, I'll steal up to the 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 thei
prayers;
And Wilie's grave promise falls sweet on his ears
ssStrange strange I'd forgotten" said he with {
sigh,
'Ho Sy.I I 1;agg when child to have Christmas
sI'li atone for my harshness," he inwardly said
'By answering their prayers ere sleep in my
Then he turned to the stairs and softly wentdow
Threw down velvet slippers and silk dressing
Donned hat, coat and boots, and was out in tn.
A millionaire facing the cold driving sleet;
Nor stopped ne until he had bought everything
TO the box full Of candy and tiny GOLD ring;
That the various presents outnumbered score
Then homeward he turned with his holiday load,
And with Aunt Mary's help, in the nursery twa
The dolly was seated beneath pine tree
BY the side of a table spread out for her tea;
Awork-box well Al ed IN the center was laid,
Solder S r. in unity lily a. STOOD b. the slad
sswth bright shining runners, and all painted red
There were balls. dogs and horses, books pleasing
And birds o. all colors were perched 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'd amply been paid
And he said to himself, az he brushed off . tear,
81 am happier tonight than I've been for year.
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever before
What care l. IL bank stock falls ten percent more:
Hereafter shall make it a rule, believe.
To have Santa Claus visit us on each Christmaf
Eve"
So thinking, he gently extinguished the light,
And tripped down stairs to retire tor 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 espled.
Then out of their beds both sprarg with bound,
And the very gifts prayed for were all Of them
They laughed and they cried in their innocent slee
And shouted papa to come quick and see
What presents Old Santa Claus brought In the
Dust the things they wanted), and left before
light,
"And now" added Annie, in voice soft and low.
While dear little Willie climbed up on his knee.
Determined between them no secrets should be-
And told in a soft whisper how Annie had said
That their dear blessed mamma 80 long ago dead,
Used to kneel down and pray, by the side of heI
And that God up in Heaven had answered her
sThen we dot up and prayed dest as well as We
tould,
And bod answered our prayer-now wasn't He
= dood?'' E klK 81 sa EE
IT should say that he was if He sent you all these
And knew just what presents my children would
please,''
well well let him think go, the dear little elf,
,Twouh be cruel to tell him did it myself)
Blind father! who caused your stern heart to re-
lent,
And the hasty words spoken so soon to repent?
twas the Being who babe you steal softly up stairs
And made you His agent to answer their prayers
Hocciu ov,I NInonSu~o