National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-12-24
Annie ana Wilii.,, PRAYER.

and beautiful that We have ever read. Il can
not fail to reach the hearts of all who peruse 1t,
besides being peculiarly appropriate to the holi-
days:
Twas the eve before Christmas: ''eood night"
And Annie and Winie had crept into bed;
There were tears or their pillows, and tears In
And each little som was heavy with signs,
FOR tonight their stern fathers command hhd
That they Should retire precisely at seven.
With questions SnSesrd ie 81 f than ever before;
Ne had told them be thogghI this delqsion sin,
And he hoped after this he shouid never more
How be scrambled down ehimneys with presents
And t faen x yeaf he .,,. head,
So restiessly tossed on their sofl. dcwny beds.
EignI, nine, and the clock in the steepie tolled
Not a word had been spoken by either tin then,
When Millie's sad face from the blanket ala
And Whispered, uDear Annie, is you fast asleep?''
,.Mhy no, brother Willie, - sweet voice rsplies,
In TnR but 7. s T SECS
Dear papa has said there IS no Santa Claus;
asrs Is 4 ne
But then I've been thinking that she used TO pray,
And God would hear everything mamma would
And perhaps she ssxed him to send SAINT. Claus
with the sack full OF presents he brought every
:.Wen, Why tant we pay dest as mamma did then,
i've been thinking SO TOO" And withouts WORD
Four little bare feet bounded out on the floor,
And two tiny hands were clasped close to each
NOW. W lille, you know, we must firmly believe
That The presents we ask for wire sure 70 re
You must wait just as still till Irsy the Amen,
And x mat you will know that your turn has come
And grant US the favor we are asking Of Thee;
Ana an dSg ss a ana spring.
Bless papa, dear Jesus. ana cause him 70 see
DOM Lot him get fSesfuI and angry again
AZ dear brother Willie and Annie. Anenr' ,on.
fRs SFS.g SsS,s g e dh
win shiny 1--WE ms 9c ana ali PAINTED yed
4 box nun q t.ndx. . bOek and q toy,
Their prsyers being ended. thesTaisedup their
And Win hearts light and cheerful 'sai. sought
They were soon lost in slumber, both peaceful and
And Win fairies in dresmland were roaming in
Eight nine and the little French clock had struck
Ere the }atber had thought ofhis children again;
he seems now to hear Annie's hatsuppfessea
And o see the big tears stand on willie's blue
81 was h.r,h TO my darllnEs ;, he mentally s.id,
Ba sS0pId not naSs sent them IL sar TS
For bank stOci to-day has gone dows Ten per cent
And denied Them Sc
But Just to make sure, IN steal up 10 their door,
So .ayne 6s PeSy TIE
And arriving at the door heard beth OF their
His knnie's ssbless papa draws forth the big
And Wiiiie,s grave promise fallssweet his ears.
strange, strange I'd torgotten,'' said he with
''HeT 1ionges, when a child. 10 have Christmas
III atone for nv harshness, - he iuwardIy said,
"BY answering their prayers ere sleep In my
urt Sn % ,h. stairs and softrvwent down.
Threw on velvet slippers and SILK dressing gown,
Donned bat, coat and boots, and was out In the
A millionaire facing the cold, driving sIset,
Indeed, he kept adding so much to HIS store, 4
s with s
And with Aunt Mary's aid in the nursery twas |
Miss Dolly was seated beneath pine tree,
By the side Of table spread out for her tes
And on It : ring. for which Annie had prayed;
with bright, Shining runners, and all painted |
There were balls, dogs and horses, books pleasing
And birds Of all coIors were perched in the tree,
Wh ss1s 20
And a. the fond rather the picture surveyed,
He thought for his trouble he had been amply |
And ala to nl@;sI. he sT Ta sss. % e,
I've epoyed more true than os ever before
To have santa Claus visit us each Christmas eve"
So thinking, he gently extinEuished the light,
And trPl ed down the stairs TO retire for night
As soon as the beams Of the bright morning sun
Put the darkness TO flight. and the stars, one by
-Four little blue eyes out Of sleep opened wide,
nd at the same moment the presents espied.
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 gee,
And shouted for s.pspa'' 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 voice son and low
You believe there s Santa Claus, papa, Iknow;n
While dear little While 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 10 kneel down and pray BY the side OF her |
And that 9 cd in Heaven had answered her prayer,
''Then We dot up ana prayed dust as well rs we /
And bod answered our prayers, now wasn't he
. should say that He WIS., II He sent You all these
nd knew just what presents my children would L
fwelR Wen. let him think so, the dear little elf
'Twould be cruel to tell him did It myselE'')
Blind father, who caused your stern heart to re-
And he hasty word spoken so soon to repentg
Twas the being who babe you steal softly mp /
And made you II agent to answer their prayers.