Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-24

Not word had been spoken by either till then,
When Wilie's sad face from the blanket did peep,
And whispered, /" Dear Annie, is you fast asleep
+" Why, no, brother Willie, sweet voice replies,
!" I've tried it In vain, but can't shut my eyes;
For, somehow, it makes me SO sorry because
Dear papa has said there Is no santa Claus
For he came every year before mamma died;
But then, I've been thinking that she used to
And God would hear everything mamma would
And perhaps she asked him to send Santa Claus
With the sacks-fall Of presents he brought every
"well, why tant we pay ldcst as mamma did {
And ask him TO send him with present, ndenY
!" I've been thinking 80, too" And without a
Four little bare feet bounded ont on the door -
And fourlitle knees the soft carpet pressed,
And two tiny hands were clasped close to each
." Now, Willie, you know we must firmly believe
That the presents We ask for we're sure TO receives
by viii turn
come then" l'
I" Dear Jesus, look down on my brother and me,
And grant US the favor we are asking Of thee
/ want a wax doll, q tea-eet and ring,
And an ebony work-box that shuts with spring.
Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him 70 see
At dear brother Willie and annie. amen
Pesss Desus e, Santa TaSs down
I want he sood dive me nice little sed,
With bright shinin' yunners, and all painted yed;
A box full OF tandy, a book and . toy,
Amen, and then, Desus, I'll be 6eod boy
Their prayers being ended, they raised up their
And with hearts light and cheerful, again sought
their beds;
They were soon lost in slumbcr, both peaceful
And with fairies In drcamland were roaming in
Eight, nine, and the little French clock had
Ere the father had thought Of his children again;
lie seems now to hear Annies half suppressed
And to zee the big tears stand in willie's blue
II was harsh with my darlingt," he mentally
ts And should not have sent them so early to bed
But then was troubled-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 thrice asked for kiss.
For never spoke harsh to my darlings before"
So saying, he softly ascended the stairs,
And arrived At the door to hear both OF their
His Annie's /" bless papa draws forth the big
And 'sifi %iiis. grave promise fall. sweet on his
Strange, strange, I'd forgotten said he with a
How l'I, iio,nged, when child, 10 have Christmas
I'll atone for my harshness," he inwardIy said,
. BY answering their prayers ere sleep in my
Then he turned to the stairs and softly went
down,
Donned hat, coat and boots, and was out In the
street,
millionaire facing the cold, driving .leet;
Nor stopped he until he had bought everything,
From the box full OF candy to the i,ny gold ring
Indeed he kept adding 50 much to his STORE.
| That the various presents Outnumbered q score
Then homeward he turned with his holiday load,
4 And with Aunt Mary's help In the nursery twas
Miss dolly wM seated beneath pine tree
| By the eide of table spread out for her tea;
Awork-box we'll filled in the center was laid,
And on 1t airing for which Annie had prayed
| A soldier in uniform stood by sled,
with bright shining runners and all painted red
There were balls, dogs and horses, books pleasing
And birds Of all colors we're perchcd in the tree;
i While Santa Claus laughing, stood up in the top
As f. gs,n,ins ready more 81 presents to
He thought. for his trouble he had amply been
70 paid
A nd he said to himself, as he brushed Off tear,
..rm happier tonight than I've been for year.
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever before;
What care II bank stock falls ten per cent more!
! Hereafter III make 1t rule, believe,
! To have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas eve.
And ,rippsi down the stairs TO retire Tor the
Ar soon as the beams of the bright morning sun
Put the darkness in flight, and the stars, one by
III
Four little blue eyes out Of sleep open wide.
And at the same moment the presents esped.
Then out Of their beds they sprang with q bound,
And the very things prayed for were all of them
4 They laughed and they cried In their innocent
And shouted for .s,para" to come quick and sec
What presents old Santa Claus brought in+the
Gus, Pafias hins. that they .wan,so and left before
n light.
And now, added Annie, In voice eoit and
, " You'll believe there's 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. long ago
Used TO knccl down and pray by the side Of her
Al chair,
And that God up In heaven had answered her
:. Then We dot up and prayed dcst as well as VIC
And pod answered our prayers, now wasn't He
) 81 should say that He was il He sent you al
these,
And knew just what presents my children would
We'll. well, let him think 10, the dear little elf
!, 'Iwould be cruel TO tell him did 1t mysclf)"
Blind father, who Caused your stern heart to re-
And the hasty word spoken So soon to repent,
Twas the Being who babe you steal softly mp
And made yon His agent to answer their prayers.
-------------------------- -------------------
j THERE ARE MANY THINGS to he
thought ofjust before Christmas, but s.
Eiseman & Co. spare their customers all
trouble on that score. They show every
: man, woman and child the thu,g need ed
I for an appropriate Christmas presents
2072d