River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-12-26
Annie ann Wines PRAY,

had been said.
AND AN Annie aud While had crept into bed
were tears in their pillows and tears in thsir
And And each little bosom was heavy with siqhs--
'V1Itsn' tneir stern father command had been
Thaf they should retire precisely al seven.
tg isteau y SlBht Tor they troubled him more
Nv toi iu , unheard Of thar before;
NO such being as Santa Claus - ever had hson
And he hoped, after this, he should never mr.
no" nc scrambled down ehimneys with presents
And this was the reason tn at two little beads
20 reatlessiy tossed on their soft, downy beds
Elght, hlns, ana the clock in the steeple oled ten
Not word had been spoken by either till then.
Wnen WINES sad face from the blanket did peep
Aud whispered, Dear Annie, Is you fast asieapS
y, NMhy no, brother Willie, sweet voice replies,
" I've tried II In vain, but can't shut my eyes
tor, somehow, II 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.
por ne came every year before mamma died.
But then, I've been thinking that she used TO pray
And God would hear everything mamma would saw
And perhaps she asked him 10 send Santa Claus
with the sacks fun of presents he brought every
year."
"well,. why tan't we pay just as mamma did then,
Aud ask Hin TO send him with presents aden ~
i've been thinking so too And without a word
more
Four little bare feet bounded ont the floor,
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed,
And two tiny hands we're elasped close to each
breast.
+" Now, Willie, you know we must firmly believe
That the presents ask for we're sure 20 receive
You must watt just as sim, till l say Amen.'
And by that you Will know that yoar turn has come
then"
" Dear Jesus, look down on my brother and me-
And grant us the favor we are asking Of Thee
want wax dolly, tea SET and ring,
and an ebony work box that shuts with a spring.
Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him TO see
That santa Claus loves US far better than he.
I Don't let him get frettul and angry again
Al dear brother Willie and Annie. Amen.n
Please, Desus, 'et Santa Taus tum down o.night
And bring us some presents before 1t is light.
want lac should div nice little sed,
With bright, shiny runners, and all painted yed;
box full of tandy, book, and toy.
/ Amen, and then, Desus, I'll be good boy"
The prayers being ended they raised mp their heads
And with hearts light and cheerful again sought
their BEDS
They were soon lopt in slunber, both peaceful and
deep.
And with fairies in dreamland we're roaming in
! sleep.
Eight nine, and the lite French clock had struck
! ten,
Ere the father had thought of his children again;
He seems now to hear Annies half-suppressed
signs,
And to see the big tears stand in wle's blue eyes,
/ p" was harsh with my darlings, he mentally said,
! " And should not have seut them early to bed,
/ But then was troubled my feelings found vent,
For bank stock to-day has gone down ten per cent.
But OF course thege forgot their troubles ere this
/ And that denied them the thrice asked-for kiss
I
I For never spoke harsh to my darlngs before"
SO saying, he softly assembled the stairs
And arrived at the door to hear both of their prayers
HIS Armies "bess papa" draws forth the big tears,
And Willies grave promise falls sweet his ears.
Strange, strange I'd forgotten" said he with
sigh,
How longed, when child, to have Christmas
draw Nigh
I'll atone for my haTshness, +" he said,
BY answering their prayers sleep in my bed.
/ Then he turned to the stairs and softly went down
Z ct ali nd sill
Donned hat, coat and boots, and was out in the
street.
millionaire facing the cold, driving sleet.
4 Nor stopped he until he had bought everything,
4 From the box full Of candy to the tiny gold ring;
Indeed, he kept adding so much to his store.
4 That the various presents outnumbered a score,
/ Then homeWard he turned with his holiday load,
And with Aunt Mary's aid in the nursery twas
slowed;
Miss oily was seated beneath pine Tree,
/ BY the side Of table spread out Tor her tea;
A workshop wen filled in the centre was laid
And on Il q ring, for which Annie had PRAYED
\ A soldier in uniform stood by a sled,
With bright shining runners aud all painted red"
There were dogs, balls and horses, books pleasing
TO see,
And birds Of all colors were perched in the tree;
While santa Claus, laughing, stood up in the top,
/ As II 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 himss IL, as he brushed Of a tear,
" I'm happier tonight than I've been for a year.
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever belore--
What care Il bank stock falls ten per cent more
Hereafter I'll make it a rule. believe,
To have Santa claus visit us each Christmas Eve,n
so thinking, he ntly 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 flight and the 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 all of them found
They laughed and they cried in their innocent eee
And shouted for "papa " to come quick and see
What presents old Santa Claus brought in the night,
Dust the things that they wantedl and left before
light.
"iAnd now" added Annie In a voice soft and low,
/ "You' believe there's Santa Clous, papa, know"
While dear little Willie climbed up on his knee,
Determined no secret between them should be;
/ Aud told, n soft whispers, how Aune had said
That their dear, blessed mamma, so 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
" Den dot mp and payed dust as well as we tould,
And bod answered our prayers. now wasn't He
dood?"
:" should say that He was If He sent you all these
And knew Just what presents my children would
please,
(Well. WE'LL let him think so, the dear little elf,
'Twould be cruel 10 tell him did It myself)n
Blind father who caused your stern heart 10 relent?
And the hasiy word spoken soon 10 repent2
Twas me Bsing who babe you steal softly up stairs,
And made you his agent to answer their prayers.