Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-25
ANNIE AND wILLIEs PRAYER.
BY MRs. SOPHIE P. SNOW.


The following beautiful poem is published
by especial request Of "NIany Subscribers"
Twas t'ie night before Christmas. " Coed
night had been said,
And Annie and Willie had crept into bed;
There were tears on their pillows and tears in
And each little bosom was heaving with
slghs.
For to night their stern fathers command had
That they should retire precisely at seven
Instead OF eight; for they troubled him more
" 18th questions unheard Of, tnan ever before;
he had iold them he thought this deception
No such thing as "santa Claus" ever had
been
And ne hoped. after this, he should never
more hear
How he scrambled down chimueys with
presents each year.
And Unis was the reason that two little heads
50 reStlessly tossed on their soft, downy beds.
Eight, nine and the clock in the steeple tolled
Not word had been spoken by either till
then,
When Wiilie's sad face from their blanket did
And whispered, "Dear Annie, is you fast
"Why, no, brother, WILLIE" a sweet voice
I've tried ii in vain, but can't shut my eyes;
For 50 o1nehow il makes me sorry because
Dear papa has said that there is no santa
Now We know that there is, and it can't be
denied,
For ne came every year before mamma died /:
Bus then, I've been thinking that she used to
pray,
And God would hear everything mamma
would say,
And perhaps She asked him to send santa
Claus here,
With the sack full Of presents he brought
''well, why tant we pay dest as mamma did
laen,
And ask Sod to send him with presents
1--WE been thinking so, too And without
word more,
Pour Iitile feet bounded out on the floor,
Ana iOur 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 we are sure 10
You must wait just as still, TIL I say Amen
And by that you Will know that your turn
has come then"
Dear Jesus, look down on my brother and me,
Ana grant us the favor we are seeking Of Thee;
! Z" ant a wax dolly, tea set and ring,
4 .ld an ebony wOrk-box tnat shuts with a
Bless papa dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That santa Claus loves us far better than hes
Don let him get angry or frettul again
AT dear brother Willie and Annie. Amen"
'' Please Desus, et santa Tause tum down TO-
night
And bIng Us some presents before It is ite;
] want he should dive ME a nice little Sed,
With bright Shinin yunners, and all painted
a box full Of tanty, a book and toy,
Amen, and then, Desus, III be a dOod boy
Their prayers being ended, they raised up
And With hearts light and cheerful again
sought their beds;
And were soon lost III slumber, both peaceful
and deep,
And with fairies in dreamIand were roaming
ia sleep.
Right, nine, aud the little French clock had
Ere the father had thought OF his children
He seems now to hear Anna's half-suppressed
And to see the big tears stand in wTIie's blue
81 was harsh with my darlings, he mentally
And should no. have sent them 50 early to
But tRen'I was troubled-my feelings found
For bank stock to-day Lad gone down ten per
Bnt Of course they've forgot all their troubles
this,
And that denied them the thrice asked for
just to make sure, IN steal up to their
door,
For never spoke harshIy 10 them before"
SO saying, ne softly assembled the stairs,
And arrived at the door to hear both OF their
His AnuIe's "bIess papa" draws forth the big
tears;
And @iiiie's grave promise falls sweet on his
ears,
strange, strange I'd forgotten" said he with
SHOW logged when a child, to have Christ
I'm atone for my harshness.' he inwaIdly
by anSwerlng their prayers ere I sleep on
Then he turned to the stairs and softly went
down,
Threw on velvet slippers and silk dressing
Donned hat, coat and boots, and was out in
the street,
. A millionaire facing the cold driving Sleet.
Nor stopped he until he mad bought every
From The box full Of candy to the tiny gold
Indeed he kept al .. - -. lauch to his store
That the various l4r'ents outnumDered a
Then 60meward be turned with his holiday
And with Aunt AIary's help in the nursery
twas s.ored;
by the side OF q table spread out for her tea;
a work box well hlled in the center was laid,
And on IL a ring, for which Annie prayed.
A soldier in uniform stood by a sled,
" With bright shining runners, and all painted
There were balls, dogs and horses, books pleas
And birds OF al colors were perched in the
While santa Claus, laughing, stood up in the
A. II getting ready more presents 70 drop.
Aud as the fond father the picture surveyed, !
lie thought Ior mis- trouble he had amply been
And he said to himself, as he brushed Ola tear. |
"I'm happier tonight than I've been for
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever
What care i If bank stock fails ten Per cent.
Heresfter I'm make it a rule, believe,
10 have santa Claus visit us each Christmas
So thinking. he gently extinguished the light, |
And tripped down the stairs 10 retire for the I
night.
As soon as the beams Of the bright morning /
Put the darkness to flight, and the stars, one
Eour IIttie blue ewes out of sleep opened wide. /
Then out Of their bed they sprang with
And the very gifts prayed for, all of them
They laughed and they cried, in their limo
And shouted for papa" to come quick and
What presents old Santa Claus brought in the
Just the things that they wanted, and left be-
And now, added Annie, in a voice soft and /
low,
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 mamma, so long ago
dead,
L sed TO kneel down and pray by the side OF
her chair,
and that God up in heaven had answered her
prayer;
Then We dot up and payed dest as well as we
tOuld,
And bod answered our prayers, now wasn't
be dCOd?"