The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-01-16
ANNIE AND wILL1E's PRAYER.
A Chrissmas Poem.
By MRS. SOPHIE P. SNOW.

BY MRS. SOPHIE P. Snow.
Twas the night before Christmas; "a Good night
had been sad,
And Annie and Willie had crept into bed;
There tears Their Ilio VS. and tears in theiE
And each little bosom was heaying with sighs,
For tonight their stern fathers command had been
That they should retire precisely at seven
Instead Of eight for they troubled him more
lie had tsii them he thong ght this deception sin,
No such thing as p" Santa Claus" ever had been,
And he hoped, after this, he should never more
How he scrambled down chimueys with presents
And tlIis vSs the reason that two little heads
SO restlessly tossed ON their soft, downy beds.
Eight nine and the clock in the steeple tosd ten
when Wife's g.I face from their blanket did peep,
Aud Whispered . Dear Ann4s, is you fast asleep?D
''why, no brother willie" 4 sweet voice replies,
I've tried It in vain, but can't shut my eyes;
For somehow it makes me sorry because
Dear papa has said there Is no santa Claus
Now ue know that there Is, and IL can't be denied,
For he came every year before uahna died; -
But then, I've been thinking that she used 70 pray,
And God would hear everything mama would say,
And perhaps 1he asked him TO send Santa Claus
With the sack full Of presents he brought every
" Well, why tant We pay dest a. mama did then,
And ask God 10 send him with presents aden2"
" I've been thinking 30, too" And without word
-Four little feet bounded out on the floor,
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed,
And two tiny hands were clasped close to each
breast.
That the presents we ask for 20 receive
Yon must wait Just as still, TIL say Aulen,'
And by that you viii know that your tur7i has come
Dear Jesus, look down on my brother and me,
And grant the favor are seeking Of Thee;
I want wax dolly, tea set and ring,
And an ebony wori-boK that shuts with spring;
Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause hiIn to see
That Santa Claus loves US far better than he;
Don't let him get angry or fretful again
At dear brother Willie and Annie, Amen"
" Please DeBus, ct Santa Iause tum down tonight
And bing ua some presents before II is ite;
want he should dive me nice little iI SEQ,
With bright shinin yunners, and all painted yed;
A box full Of tanty, a book aud a toy
Amen, and then, Dssus, I'll be dood boy.'
Their prayers being ended, they raised up their
And with hearts light and cheerful again sought
And we're soon lost in sluflber, both peaceful and
And With iP fairies in dreamland were roaming in
sleep.
Eight, nine and the little French clock had struck
Ere the fathor had thoughto of his children again:
He seems now to hear Annals hali-supPressed sign
And the big tears stand in Whlie's blue eyes.
was harsh with my darlings," he mentally said
And shond not have sent them 50 early to bed
But then troubled-my feelings found vent,
For bank stock to-day had gone dowL ten per cent.
Bat Of course they've forgot an.their troubles ere
And that denied them the thrice asked for kiss;
Bnt just to make sure, III steal up to their door,
For nescr spoke harshly 70 them hem before
And arrived at the door TO hear both Of their
Us Abniss bless papau draws forth the big tears,
And Wiuies grave promise falls sweet on his ears,
Strange, strange I'd forgotten" SAID he with a
sigh,
'How ionsod when child, to have Christmas
draw nigh :"
I'M atone for my harshness," he inYardly said,
" By answering their prayers ere sleep on my bed
Then he turned to the stairs and softly went down,
Threw on velvet slippers and silk dressing gown
DOnned hat, coat and boots, ana was out IN the
A millionaire facing the cold driving sleet.
Nor stopped he until he had bought every thing,
From the box fun Of candy to the tiny gold ring;
Indeed he kept adding 50 much TO his store 30
Shat the various presents mo soDre &
And with Aunt Narys help in the nursery twas
Miss DoIiie was seated behind pine tree,
BY the side OF table spread out for her tea;
work-bo1 well filled in the centre was laid,
And on Il ring for which Annie prayed. -, --
@gith bright shining runners and all painted red.
There were balls dogs and horses books pleasing to
sec,
Aud birds Of all colors were perched in the tree;
While Santa Claus, laughing stood up IN the top,
AZ II getting ready more presents to drop.
And as the fopd father the picture surveyed,
He thought for his trouble he had amply oeen Pa4o
And ne said TO himself, as he brushed on tear
"I'n happier tonight than I've been for 4 year,
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever before,
What II bank stock falls ten per cent more
Hereafter III make it rule, believe,
To have santa Claus visit us each Christmas eve ;"
50 thinking, he gently distinguished the light
And trpped down the stairs to retire for the night
Az soon "A the beams of the bright morning sun
Put the darkness 10 flight and the stars, one by one,
Four little blue eyes out Of sleep opened wide, 3
Then at the same moment the presents espied;
Then out of their bed they sprang with bound,
Aud the very gifts prayed for al 81 them found
They laughed and they cried in their innoeem 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. H.... d.. ..... ...r-l
" AnS now" added Annie, in a voice soft andlow
"Ioau believe. there's a santa olaua, papa ]
While dear little Willie climbed up on bis knee,
Determined no secret between them should be;
Aud told. in soft whisper, how Annie had said
That their dear, blessed mama, so long ago dead,
Used 60 kneel down and pray by the side OF her
chair r.. .r.ra q hFf....
Aud that God up in heaven had answered her
prayer;
Thon We dot up ana payed dest as we'll ms we tould
And bod answered our prayers, now wasn't he
dood2N p.