The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-12-24
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CHRISTMAS EVE.


..I ny MRS. SOPHIA p. SNOW. a-
Twas the night before Christmas; Goodnight
And A nSSI IND and Willie had crcpt into bed;
TScre were tears on their pillows, and tears IL
,,l each SI II tS bosom was heavy with stghs-
For TO night their stern fathers command had
THAT t IS .6oaId retire precisely At seven, o.,
i1Etead Of ~ eight for they troubled him more
Win questions unhOArd OF than ever before.
IIc had told them no thought this dalnsion sin;
yo such being az Santa Claus ever had been;
Asd no hoped, after this, hc should neyetmore
How he scrambled down ehImacys with presents
And t6is was the reason that two lille heads
10 Test!essly tossed on their sofs, doRny beds.
Blight, nine, and The clock on the steep!e toned
Not a word had been spoken by either I'LL then;
When WilIie's cad face from the blanket did
And Whispered, "Dear Annie, Is you fast
why no, brother Willie" sweet voice replies;
i've tried It in vain, but can't shut my eyes;
POr somehow II makes me 90 sorry tecaugo
Dear papa has said there 10 no santa ClauA.
Nov, we know there Is, and 1t can't be dented,
For be csmo every year b. fore mamma died;
XII then rye been thinking that che used to
And God would hear everything nammaw would
AMI pef ii she asked him to Eerd Santa Claus
here, - - =
with the sacks full Ofpresents no brought every
year. H'a ~ y sf-4l
"wci, why tan't We pay dest as mamma did
then, l-t.:lf -.
Aud ak him to send him with presents aden ?"
ave been thinking SO, too,"1and without q
Pour little feet bounded ont on the floor, ,
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed, x
And Two tiny hands were clasped close to each
"yow wifi Wife yon know we mus. nrmly believe
That The presents We ask for wc'reture 10 re.
You must wait Just as still Till ray the Amen
Aud by that you viii know that your turn has
"pc,t Josas : look down on my brother AID me,
And grant US the favor We are aeking OF Thee:
wantG wax doll. \ teatset and rlnH,.tiJ =,
Aud an ebony work-box that shuts with q
u!e.. ps laSD Dear Jesus, aud cause him to SEQ
That Santa Clause loyes Us iar better than he.
At dear brother Willie and Annie; Amen"
"Please, DO.uset Santa Taus tum down might
And bring ns some presents beloreit Is light,
iwInt he could dive mo d nice little sed.
with bright shinin' runaers, aud all painted yed;
A box full OF tandy, a book and q toy, ~
Amen, and then Desus, I'll be o dood boy"
TheIr prayers being ended, they raised up their
And with hearts light and chcorfal, agaiusousht
their beds; .ls = I'D a..W
They were soon lost in slumbcr. both peaceful
And with fairies in Dreamland were roaming in
Eight, nine, and The little French clock had
Ere tho father had thought OF hls children again,
Lie fcems now TO hear Annle's halfsuppressed
And TO fCo tho big tears stand in willie's blue
81 was harsh with ny Garl!ngs." he mentally
And should not have sent them so early to bed:
Bat then l was troubled-my feelings found
For bank stock to day has gone down ten FER
cent. .H4l
But Of eouree they've forgot their. troubles gro.
Aud that denied them the thrice asked for kiss;
But Just 10 make sure, I'll steal up TO their door
For never spoke harsh tony darlings before"
So saying no sofdy assembled, the staire. "a
And arrived at the door to hear both OF their
HIs Annie's "blcss papa" draws forth thcsbis
And WiiIics grave promise falls svoc,ly on his
Strange, strange I'd forgotten" said he with a
GLOW iongcd, when child. to have Christ
mas draw nigh. -
IN atone for my harshness, no inwarIIy sara.
by answering sT their prayers eF'l sleep In my
Then he turned to the stalls and softly wen.
Threw T on velvet slippers and silk dressing
gown, s,H-a
Donncd hat, coat, and boots, and was out on tho
street. 49, ~, ID,
millionaire facing the cold driving sleet -
Nor stopped he until he hsd bought everything,
From the box fall ofcandy TO the tiny gold ring;
Indeed, no kept adding 80 much TO his store,
That tho various presents outnumbered score,
Then homeWard no turned with his holiday load.
And with Aunt Mays help In the nursery twas
Miss dolly was seated beneath pine tree, sIiIa
By the side Of table spread out for tea; .gii-
work box well fllledin the center was laid,
And on It ring for which Anna had prayed
soldier In uniform etood by aled, 800.
with bright shining runner and all painted
There were balls, dogs aud horses, books pleas.
And 5irds q III colors wore psrched IN the tree,
While Santa Claus, laughing, stood up IN the
affecting ready more present. st:. % drop 5
He thought for his trouble be had amply been
And he said to hinself as he brushed on tear
"Im,happIer Tonight than I've beeniio q year.
What care II bank stock falls ten per cent more!
Hereafter I'll make itgrulc. believe, ~.
10 have Santa Claus .visltsrs each Christmas
CVe.h
sothinkIpg, no gently extinguIshed the lieht,
And trIpped down the stairs to retire ioF the
As soon a Is The bcatis 81 the bright morning sun
Pat the datAness 70 Iilght, and the stars one by
Four little blue Dyes ont Of sleep opened wide,
Then out Of their beds they tpiang with y bound,
And the very gifts prayed for were all OF them
They laughed and they cried in their innocent
glee. .-v.,Y 20 Y LAil
And shouted for papa" to come quiek, 9nS sec ~,
"n ar presents 90 fan'A Aao Trough - q
Dust The things that they wan.cdJ and left be-
And now" added Anna. 10 q voice soitand low,
You'll believe there's q Santa Claus. papa. L
While dear little While climbed up on his knee.
Determined no secret between them should be:
And told in soft whispers how Anna had said
That their dear blessed mamma, SO long ago dead
Used 70 kneel down and pray By the side o. her
And that God up in heaven had answered her
"Then we dot up and prayed dest as well as we
tOuld, -.ssl t.A y 2 49,
And bod answered our prayers, nowwAsn he
dOOd!
"Ishoud say that he was. he sent you oil these,
And knew Just what presents my children wouid
please.
well well Let them think so, tho dear little ell,
Twolld be cruel to tell them / did II myself :
Blind father, who caused your. stern heart 10 re-
And the hasty words spoken so soon to repent
Twas the being who bade you steal fottly up
stairs, -
And made you his agent to answer their prayers