The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-01-10
ANNIE AND w1LLE's PRAYER.
A Christmas Poem.

BY MRS. SOPHIE p. SNOW.
Twas the night before Christmas; Good night
And Annie and Willie had crept into bed;
There were tears on their pillows and tears in their
And each little bosom was heaving with sighs,
For tonight their stern fathers command had been
That they shoHld retire precisely at seven
instead of eight for they troubled him more
He had told them he thought this deception sin,
No such thing as Santa Claus" ever had boen,
And he hoped, after this, he should never more
hear
How he scrambled down chimncys with presents
each year.
50 restlessy tossed on their soft, downy beds.
Eight, nine, and the clock in the steeple tOllsd ten
Not word had been spoken by either till then,
When Wile's sad face from their blanket did peep,
Aud whispered, " Dear AnT4s, is you fast asleep ?"
"Why, no, brolher Willie," sweet voice replies,
g i've tried it in vain, but can't shut my eyes
For somehow it makes me sorry because
Dear papa has said there IL no Santa Claus
Now We know that there is, and it can't be denied,
For he came every year before mama died;
But them Ive been thinking that she used to pray,
And perhaps 1he asked him to send Santa Claus
With the sack full of presents he brought every
year"
q Well, why tant we pay dest as mama did then,
And ask God to send him witt, presents aden?"
4" I've been thinking so, too" Aud without word
Four little feet bounded out on the floor,
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed,
And two tiny hands we're clasPed close to each
breast.
Now Willie, you know we must firmly believe
That the presents we ask for sure to receive;
fog must must wait J1st @ as stlll' tlli say, Amen
Aud 10y that you Will know that your turn has come
then"
:. Dear Jesus, look down my brother and me,
And grant us the favor are seeking of Thee
] want dolly, tea set and ring,
And ebony work-box that shuts with spring;
Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That Santa Claus loves us far better than he;
Don't let him get angry or fretfui again
At dear brother Willie and Annie Amen"
~ laIga down
Aud bing us some presents before 1t IS ite;
7 want he should dive me a nice little sed,
With bright shinin yJnners, and all painted yed;
box full Of tanty, book and toy,
Amen, and then, Desus, I'll be a doOd boy"
Their prayers being ended, they raised up their
heads,
And with hearts light and cheerful again sought
And were soon lost in sIumber, both peaceful and
And with fairies in dreamland were roaming in
sleep.
Rght nine, and the little French clock had struck
ten,
Ere the father had thought of his children again:
He seems now to hear Anna's half-supPressed sigh,
And to see the big tears stand in Wilies blue eyes.
. was harsh with my earnings" ne mentally said,
- And shonId not have sent them early to bed;
But then I troUbled-my feelings found vent,
For bank stock to-day had gone dOwI ten per cent.
But Of course they've forgot all their troubles ere
And that denied them the thrice asked for kiss;
Bat just to make sure, IN steal up TO their door,
For never spoke harshly to them before"
SO saying, he softly ascended the stairs,
And arrived at the door TO hear both OF their
prayers.
His Anne's bless papa draws forth the big tears,
And Wiie's grave promise falls sweet on his ears,
Strange, strange I'd forgotten" sand he with
sigh,
'sHow / ionRed when q child to have Christmas
"In atone for my harshness," he inwurdly said,
- By answering their prayers ere sleep on my bed
Then he turned to the stairs and softly went down,
Threw of velvet slippers and silk dressing gown
Donned hat, coat aud boots, and was out in the
A millionaire facing the cold driving sleet.
Nor stopped he until he had bought every thing,
From the box full of candy to the tiny gold ring;
Indeed lac kept adding so much TO MS store
That the various presents outnumbered a score.
Then homeward turned with ms monday loi.i'
And with Aunt Mary's help in the nursery twas
Miss Dollie was scotcd behind pine tree,
BY the side Of table spread out for her tea
4 work-hOx well flied in thb centre was laid,
And on it a ring, for which Annie prayed.
A soldier in uniform stood my a sled,
. With bTi ,hJ shining runners, aud all painted red
There bas, dogs and horses, books pleasing to
Aud birds Of all coIors were pcrchcd in the tree;
While Santa Claus, laughing, stood up IN the top,
As if getting ready more presents TO drop
He thought for his troub is6 had amply Seen paid,
sIm barpier to-night than I've been for year,
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever before,
What if bank stock falls ten per cent. more?
Hereafter III make it rule, believe,
To have Santa Claus visit each Christmas eve ;"
So thinking he gently extiug1tished 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,
Then at the same moment the presents esped;
Then out of their bed 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
light.
80 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 whisper, how Annie had said
That their dear, blessed mama, so long ago dead,
Used to kneel down and pray by the side OF her
chair,
prayer;
Then we dot up and payed dest well as we tould,
And bod answered prayers, now wasn' he
d1od