The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1873-01-11
ANNIE AND w1LL1E,s PRAYER,
A Christmas Poem.
BY MRS. SOPHIE P. Snow.


Twas the night before Christmas; q Good nigh
And Annie and Willie had crept into bed;
There tears on their pillows and tears in thei
And each little bosom was heaving with sighs.
For tonight their stern fathers command had bee
That they shoald 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 deception a sin,
No such thing " Santa Claus" ever had been,
And he hoped, after this, he should never NOR
How he scrambled down chirnlleys with present
| And this was the reason that two little heads
1 So resflessly tossed on their SOFT doW1y beds.
Eight nine, and the clock in the steeple tolled ten
| Not word had been spoken by either till then,
When Willies sad face from their blanket did peep
Aud whispered :" Dear Annie, is you fast asleep2"
/ why no, brother Willie sweet voice replies,
:. I've tried IT in vain. but can't shut my eyes
1 For somehow il makes me sorry because
Dear papa has said there is no Santa claus
Now we know that there i, andit can't be denied,
/ For he came every year before mama died;
But theu, I've been thinking that she used to pray,
| And God would hear everything mama would say,
And perhaps 1he asked him to send Santa Claus
with the sack full of presents he brought every
!. weli VIZ tanf we PaS 60 as MANN did thea,
" I've been thinking 50, too" And without VOID
Four little feet bounded ont on the floor.
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed,
And two tiny hands we're clasped close to each
breast.
That the presents ask for We sure 10 receive
You must wait just a. still, till I say Amen
And by that YOU via know that your turn has come
- Dear Jesus, look down my brother aud me,
And grant the favor seeking Of Thee
1 want a dolly, a tea set aud ring,
And ebony work-box that shuts with a spring.
Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause hirn to see
Don't let him get angry OF fretful again
At dear brother Willie and Annie, Amen"
- Please Desus, ct Santa Tause tum down tonight
And hing some presents before II Is ite
I want he should dive me nice little sed,
With bright shinin yunners, and all painted yed
box fun Of tanty, book and toy,
Amen, and then, Desus, III be dood boy"
Their prayers being ended. they raised up their
And with hearts light aud cheerful again sought
And were soon lost in slumber, both peaceful and
And with fairies in drearuland were roaming in
sleep.
Eight nine, and the little French clock had struck
Ere the father had thought Of his children again:
He seems now To hear AnIsas half->uppres-ed sigh,
And to the big tears stand in Wiliiea blue eyes.
a harsh with nay darings," he mentally said,
= And shonld not have sent them 20 early e. bed
But then vas troubled-rny feelings found vent,
For bank stock to-day had gone dow ten per cent.
But Of course they've forgot all their troubles ere
And that denied them the thrice asked for kiss;
But just to make sure IN steal up 20 - 0ir door,
For never spoke harshiy 80 them before
So saving, he softly assembled the stairs,
And arrived at the door hear both If their
HIS Annie's bless papa draws forth the big tears,
And Wilies grave promise fails sweet on his ears,
:" Strange, strange ia forgotten, said he with
" How ionged when child, to have Christmas
draw nigh:n
By answering their prayers sleep 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 III the
S6r .to@ped he until he had every thing,
Prom the box fun Of candy 10 the tiny gold ring;
Indeed he kept adding 50 much to bis store
That the various presents OutuUmbered a score.
Then honeward he turned with his holiday load,
And with Aunt Mary's help in the nursery twas /
Miss DoIe was seated behind pine tree,
BY the side of a table spread out for her tea
A Work-box well nlled in the centre was laid,
Aud on il a ring, for which Annie prayed.
A soldier IN uniform stood my a rledr
with bright shining runners and all painted red /
There were balls, dogs and horses, books pleasing u
And birds Of all colors were perched in the tree;
While Santa Clans, laughing, stood up in the top
Is If getting ready more presents to drop
fs f,7, ms
Md ne said TO himself, a. he brushed OF tear,
i I'm hapI ier tonight than I've been for year,
I've enjoye more true pleasure than ever before,
What care if bank stock falls ten per cent more
Hereafter III make II a rule believe,
To have Santa Claus visit iis each CHRISTMAS eve
So thinking, he gently extinguished the light,
And ripped down the stairs to retire for the night
Put the darkness to flight and the stars one by one,
Four little blue eyes out Of sleep opened wide
Then at the moment the presents esIfed.
Then out of their bed they spraug with a bound,
And the very gifts prS ed for, all Of them found
They laughed aud thry cried, IN their innocent gee,
And shouted for paI a" to css ~ quick aud see
What presents old Santa Caus brought the night.
lust the things that they wanted, and LEFT before
light
- And now, added Annie in voice soft and luw,
= You1l believe there's Santa Claus, papa, /
While dear little Willie climbed up on his knee,
Determined no secret between them should be-
And t@Id, in soft whisper, how Annie had said
That their dear, blessed mama, 80 long ago dead,
Used to kneel down and pray by the side Of her /
chair,
Aud that God up in heaven had answered her /
prayer;
Then we dot up and payed dest well as we tould, /
And Dod answered our prayers, now wasn' he
dood -