The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-12-27
Christmas Eve.
~ MRS SOPHIA P. SNOW.

Twas the before Christmas " Goodnight had bee
And Anne and While had crept into bed
There ~ere tears on their pillows. and tSnr4 in thei
A d each rttle bosom was heavy with ,ighs-
For tonight their stern father, comInlnds had beel
U given.
I That they should retire pre-, sely at seven,
! Instead Of eight fJr they troubled INN
with questions uuheart II. than ever D, fore
/ lie had tod them he thought this deluSon a sin,
/ No -uch being A. santa Claus" ever had been,
I Aud NJ hoped after this ne should neyernore hear
How he scrambled down chinneys with presents eacf
wear.
I tud thi, the reason Why tNu utrie heads
- rcsiles>ly tossed their ,oft d,vny bed,
Eight, uine and the clock IN the steeple strikes ten
MI Nsrd had been spoken hy either tin then,
When Wllies sad fece trotn the blanket did peep.
And whispered, " ar Annie, yuu fast asleepY
Why. NJ, brother Willie. sweet voice replies
+ I've I1ed Il IN vain. but cant shut my ewes,
For, somehow. Il makes me sorry because
Dear papa ha> said their T. me- Santa Claus
Nov, We kuoN there Is. aud II can't be denied
For he came every year before mamma died
But. then, I've been thinking that she used 70 pray
And Cod would hear everything mamma would say
AMI perhaps she asked Him t. send Santa Claus here
with the sacks u Il presents he brought every wear
" Well, why tan't We pay ieSt mamma did then.
And ask Him to send him with presents aden 2"
" I've been thinking 20 too" And without word
-Four little bare feet bounded out on the noor.
Ans four little knees the soil carpet pressed.
And two tiny hands clnsped close "a each breast
Now, Willie. YOU know, must firmly believe
That the presents We ask for sure 20 receive
You must wait Just still till say the Amen
And by tn you will X ow that your turn has come
Dear Je~u-, look down on my brother and me-
And grant ~ the favor asking ef Thee
! want wax doll, q tea set and ring
Aud an ebony work box that shuts aith spring
Ble>s papa dear Jesus, and cause him 10 SEE
That SAINT Claus loves u f,r better than he
Don't let him get fretful and angry again
Al dear brother Willie ana Annie. Amen"
Please. nesus ct Santa TaIs tum d"~n to Night,
want he should dive nice little sci.
With bright shiuni yuunerS, ard an painted yed
box full Il tsndy, book and toy,
Amen, ANA then Desus. III be a dood hoy "
their prayers being ended, they rai>e mp their heads
And With heart, light ana cheerful again sought their
beds
They we're soon lost in ,umber both peaceful and deep
Ana Win fairies i'll !'reamland were roaming n sleep
E,.ht nine ana tic little French cio had struck ten
Ere The father had thought Il his children sgAiu
Tie seems 70 hear Annie, half suppressed sigh,
And 70 the biz tear. .t4nl n Millies blue -Aes
J. va harsh with ms dIring,, he mentally >tid
Ana should not have sent them ~ early o. ted
But then sas uoubled my feelings found vent;
For bank -tuck to day has gone Nn TEN Ter cent
But q course they've farg their Troubles this
Ana that denied them the thrics o,kt'i-f9r kis,
Eat. III to make SURF, III steal up T. their d...s
FOr never SI-ke harsh my dAfng> before
80 -ayin- he softly assembled the stairs.
And Ell tho door hear bath u their trAver,
H. Annle'S bless papa draws forth the hg tears.
Ana MIie- grave promise falls sweet on his ear
Strange, strange I'd forgutten, said be wi'h gh.
How onged. when child, u have Christmas draw
nigh,
IN atone for my har,hne,>. he msardly said.
BY answerin. their prayers ere | sleep IN my bed
Then he turned to the stairs and SOFTLY went down
I rev OF velvet shpI,er~ and silk dressing gown
d nned hat coat and boot>, nd in the street,
A millionaire facing the cold, driving >eet
Nor stopped until he had bought everything
From the boz full OF candy t. the tiny gold ring
Indeed, he Kept adding much to his store.
That the various resent, outnumbered a score.
Then hnmewlrd Ne turned with his holiday load
A4fNt hahn frt
Miss Dolly sSs seated beneath pine tree
BY the side ot table spread out for her tea
A work box well filled in the center laid.
And on il ring Tor which Annie had prayed.
soldier m uniform stood by sled
with bright, shining runners and all painted red
There we're balls d - and horses books pleasing to
And birds u all colors were perched in the tree
While santa Claus, laughing stood up in the top
As II getting ready more presents 10 drop,
And as the fond father the picture surveyed,
He thought for Ms trouble he'd amply been paid;
Atu ne said 10 himself. as he brushed on . tear.
:. I'm happier tonight than I've been for year.
What care II bank stock fails ten per cent. more
Hereafter III make il rule, believe,
To have Santa Claus visit u each Christmas Eve
So thinking, he gently eXtinguished the light,
Aud trpped down the stairs to retire for the hight
A. soon As the beams of the bright morning
Put the darkness 10 fight, and the stars by ons
-Four little blue eyes out OF sleep opened wide
And at the same moment the presents esped.
Then out their bells they sprang with bound
And the very gifts prayed for all Of them found
The 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,
uSt the things that they wanted and left before light
And now" added Annie, in a voice soft and low,
you'll believe there's Santa Claus, papa. know :,
While dear little Willie climbed up on his knee.
Determined no secret between them should be
And told. in soft VIII spers, how Annie had said,
That their dear, blessed mamma, 50 long ago dead,
Used 70 knee down and pray by the side Of her chair
And that God up in heaven had answered his prayers
Den dot up and prayed dest well a. tould,
And Dod answered our prayers now wasn't he dOOdY
81 should say that He wa> If He sent you all these,
And knew just what presents my children uld
please
We'll, we'll, let him think SO, the dear little elf,
TSould he cruel to tell him dld it myself.C
Blind father Who caused your stern heart TO relenti
And the hlsty word spoken to repent
Twas the Being who bade You steal softly upstairs,
And made YOU His agent e answer their Drayen