Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-12-25
CHRIS. MAS EVE.
By NE 4. SOPHIE p. SNOW.

Tvss the eve Def ore Christmas; Good night had
been said.
And Annie and Willie had crept into bed;
There were Ars on their pillows, and tears In
,,d each ttle bosom was heavy with signs
Tor toni xht their stern fathers commands had
That th ~ should retire precisely at seven,
instea OF eight; for they troubled him more
VIII aueetions unheard Of, than ever before;
He lsd told them he thought this delusion sin,
i nd he hoped after this, he should nevermore
uov he scrambled down chimneys with presents
"A his was the reason that two little heads
g. ,estlessly tossed on their soft, dOwny beds,
Mcbt, nire, and the clock in the steeple toled
w, word had been spoken by either till then,
when WiIlie's sad face from the blanket did peep,
And whispered, Dear Annie is you fast aseep!''
aWby no. brother Willie" sweet voice replies,
..I,ye tried il in vain, but can't shut my eyes;
vor somehow, IL makes me so sorry because
near papa has said there IL no Santa Claus
Now we know there IL, and II can't be denied,
Tor he came every year before mamma died;
BIT, then, I've been thinking that she used to
And God would hear everything mamma would
And perhaps she asked Him to send Santa clau.
with the sacks full Of presents he brought every
year.
well why tan't we pay dest as mamma did
then,
And ask Him to send him with presents adens"
ave been thinking 30, too" And without word
rour little bare feet bounded out on the floor,
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed
And two tiny hands were clasped close to each
.Sow. Willie, you know, we must firmly believe
That the presents we ask for we sure TO re-
you must wait just as still till say the Amen
And by that you will know that your turn has
come then.
.Dear Jesus, look down on my brother and me,
And grant us the favor we are asking of Thee;
I want wax-do, a tea-set and ring,
And an ebony work that shuts with spring !;
Rless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That Santa Claus loves US far better than he;
Don't let him get fretful and angry again
Al dear brother Willie and ANNE, Amen"
.Please, Desus, 'et Santa Taus tum down to night,
And bring US some presents before 1t is light
want he should dive me a nice little sed,
With bright shinin' runners, and all painted yed ;
box full Of tandy, book and a toy,
Amen. and then, Desus, III be a dood boy"
Their prayers being ended, they raised up their
And with hearts light and cheerful, again sought
their beds;
They were soon lost in slumber, both peaceful and
And with fairies in Dreamland were roaming In
Eight, nine, and the little French clock had struck
ten,
bfe the father nad tnOught OF nls cnlluren again;
He seems TO hear Annie's halfsuppressed
sighs,
And to see the big tears stand in willies blue
II was harsh with my darlings," he mentally said,
And should not have sent them SO early to bed:
But then was uoubled-my feelings found vent,
For bank stock to-day has gone down ten per
cent,
But Of course they've forgot their troubles ere
this,
And that denied them the three -asked-for kiss;
But just make sure, I'll steal up to their door,
For never spoke harsh to my darlings before
So saying, he softly assembled the stairs,
And arrived a. the door to hear both OF their pray
His Annes "bless papa" draws forth the big tears,
And Willie's grave promise falls sweet on his ears
strange, strange I'D forgotten" said he with a
"How longed, when child, to have Christmas
I'll atone for my harshness," he inwardly said,
by answering their prayers ere sleep in my
Then he turned to the stairs and softly went down.
Threw off velvet slippers and silk dressing gown
Donned hat, coat and boots, and was out in the
A millionaire facing the cold, driving sleet.
Nor stopped he until he had bought everything,
From the box full Of candy to the tiny gold ring;
Indeed, he kept adding 30 much to his store,
That the various presents outnumbered a score.
Then homeward he turned with his holiday load,
And with Aunt Mary's help in the nursery twas
Miss Dolly was seated beneath pine tree,
By the side Of q table spread out for her tea;
Awork box well filed in the center was laid,
And on it ring for which Annie had prayed.
soldier In uniform stood by sled,
With bright, shining runners, and all painted
There were balls, dogs and horses, books pleasing
And birds Of all colors were perched in the tree;
While Santa Clus, laughing, stood up in tho top,
As II getting ready more presents to drop,
And as the fond father the picture surveyed,
He uuht forh fvnu n Ia haf
And he said 10 himself, rs he brushed of q tear,
I'm happier tonight than I've been for year.
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever before.
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"
70 thinking, he gently extinguished the light,
And 1pped down the stairs to retire for the night,
As soon as the beams Of the bright morning sun
fut 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 esped.
Then out Of their beds they sprang with bound,
And the very gifts prayed for were all Of them
They laughed and they cried, In their innocent
And shouted for papa to come quick and see
What presents old Santa Claus brought in the
night
Dust the things that they wanted), and left before
"And now" added Annie. in a voice soft and low,
"foH'll believe there's a Santa Claus, papa,
While dear little Willie climbed up on his knee,
Determined no secret between them should be;
And told, In soft whispers, how Annie had said
That their dear, blessed mamma, so long ago
dead,
Used to kneel-down and pray by the side Of her
chair,
And that God up in heaven had answered her
prayerl
Den we dot up and prayed dest as well US we
t0uld.
And bod answered our prayers; now wasn't he
dood?"
Il should cay that He was If He sent you all
these.
And knew just what presents my children would
please.
!Well, well, let him think 30, the dear little elf,
Iwould be cruel to tell him did Ii myself J"
Blind father, who caused your stern heart TO re-
lents
And the hasty werd spoken so soon to repents
Twas the Being who babe you steal softly up
stairs,
And made you His agent to answer their prayers.
Miscellaneous.