The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1874-12-24

SO saying ne, sOItiy hseehueu the
the sCalrs,
And arrived st the door to bear both
of their prayers.
His Annie's 'bless papa" draws forth
the big tears,
And Willie's grave promise falls
swee. on his ears,
''strange, strunge Id forgotten" i" said
he with sigh,
''How I lOnged when n child, to have
Christmas draw nigh,"
"1'll atone for my harshness," he in
warilly said, III
"By answering their prayers ere !
sleep in my bed"
TheN he turned to the stairsand softly
went down. -~
Threw off his velvet slippers and silk
dressing gown,
Donned hat. coat and boots, aud was
out on the street,
A millionaire facing the cold driving
sleet; Woi + sea
Nor stopped .uatll he had bought ey'
efythlng,
From the box of candy to the tiny
gold ring;
Indeed he kept adding so much to his
store,
That the various presents Qutnumber-
ed q score.
Then homeward he turned with his
holiday load, er3i
And with Aunt Mary's aid In the nur-
sery twas slowed; III.
Miss Dolly was seated beneath pine
g., tree,
By the side of a table spread out for
her tea;
A work-box wei! filed in the center
was laid
And on It a ring for which Annie had
Y prayed. re- h
A soldier in uniform stood by a sled,
With bright shining runners all
painted red"
There were balls. dogs and horses
looks, pleasing TO see,
And birds of all colors were perched
In the tree;
While Santa Claus, laughing. stood MP
in the top,
As IL getting ready more presents to
drop.
and "a the fond father the picture
surveyed, 1
He Thought for his trouble he had am
ply been paid,
And he said tn himself, as he brushed
off n tear,
''I'm happier tonight than I've been
tor year.
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than
ever before;
What care if bank stock falls ten
per cent. mOrel ....
Hereafter, III make 1t" rule | believe.
To have Santa Claus visit us each
Christmas Eve"
So thinking, he gently extinguished
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,
And at the same moment the presents
espled;
Then ont of their beds they sprang
with q bound,
And til very gifts prayed for. were
all of them found.
They laughed and they cried in Their
innocent glee, 81 -
And shouted for "papa" to come
quick and see
What presents old Santa Claus had
brought in the night,
! SJust the things they had wanted) ant
and left before light.
"And now" added Annie, in a voice
soft and low,
you'll believe me there's Santf
Claus, papa. know;
While dear little Willie climbed up or
his knee,
Determined no secret between then
should be; ."f
And told III soft whispers, how Anni'
had said
That their blessed mamma, so Ions
ago dead,
Used to kneel down and pray by til,
side Of her chair
and that God up In heaven had an
swcred her PRAYER!
"Then we dot up aud payed dust a
well as we tould,
And bod answered our prayers, nov
wasn't he dood ?"
"f should say that he was, II he sen
you all these. >
And knew just what presents my chill
dren would please.
(Well. well. let him think so, the dea
little elf rr., 4
'TwouIG be cruel to tell him / did
myself"
: Blind father! who caused your sterl
heart to relentS
And the hasty word spoken 80 soon t
rpDent2