The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-12-21
CHRISTMAS EVE. ..s.55 :
Axnn AID WlIIIR's PRAYER. : =, 2

-s@>..' 1< Axnn AID wl111R's PRAYER.
Twas The eve before Christmas: "oood night had
BEEN said, s. :. ~
And Annie and w,n,e had crspt Into bed; e
There were team their piilows, and tear, in thsr
And each lttls bosom "a. he.vlue With .,eh.'s -
Tor tonight their stern fathers eoumands had been
T. given, ~ .I .-.:e f..~% -. r-,,s.r-
That they should retire precisely at7, :
Instead Of At 8; for they troub;e I'd him more
Win questions unheaFd Of than ever before;
Ae told them be thought this delusion IN,
No such thing - "santa Clans'' ever had bean,
And be hoped after this he should nevermore hear
no" ne scraU bed down chtmEeys with presents each
yeaT.
And this Wa the reason that two little heads
so reslsoy tossed on their soft doWny beds -;
Eight. nine. and the clock on the steeple toled ten
1ta word he'd been spoken BY eth. ! till then
When Wilie'o sad face from the blankat did peep.
Mna wM.psred: Dear Annie, b you 81 asleepf
.Mnx. "a brother Wille," sweet voice replies.
I'VE frfed Il In vaia, but I 1ean't shut my eyes;
Fof, somehow It makes me 70 sorry because
Dear papa has said there IL no ''Santa Claus'
Now. we know there II, and it can't bo denied
For he came every year before mamma died;
But then I've been thinking that she usd to pray,
AID God would hear everything mamma would say,
And perhaps she asked him to send Santa Claus here's
with the sacks full Of presents he brought every year.
""ell, Why tsn't we pray dest - mamma did then,
And ask Him to send him with presents sden?'
i've been thinking 10 too" And without = word
-Four little bare feet bounded out on the floor,
And four little kncea the soft carpet pressed,
And two tiny hands clasped close to each breast.
NOV. Willie. you know we must firmly believe
nat the presents We ask for We to receive;
You must wait just u still till say Amen.
And by that you will know thatyour turn has come
then.
pear Jesus look down on my brother and me.
And grant NJ the favor We are asking Of thee:
want wax dolly, atearset and ring.
And IN ebony work box that shuts with spring,
Bless papa. Dear Jesus aud cause him to see
That Santa Claus l0vcs 10 far better than he.
Don't let him get ffetfnl and angry again,
At dear brother Willie and Annie: Amen"
Please Desus. let Santa Taus tum down tonight.
And bling NJ some p'esents before it u light.
want he should dive me nice little sed,
With blight shfnin' yunner and Nil painted yed;
dox full OF tandy, = book, and toy,
Amen, and then Desus III be dood boy
Their prayers being ended they raised up their heads
And With hearts light and cheerful again sought their
beds:
They were soon lost In sumber, both peaceful and
deep
And with "a ires In dreamand were roaming in Sleep
Eight nine, and the little French clock had struck ten
Ere the father had thought Of his children again:
He seems now to hear Annies halfsuppressed 1ighs.
And to zee the tears &tand in Willte's blue eyes,
I wa harsh with my darlings." he mentally said
"And should not have sont them 20 early to bed;
But then I was troubled-my feelings Il und vent
For bank stock to day las gone down ten per cent
But ofcourse they've forgot their troubles ere this
And that denied them the thrice-asked-for kiss;
But. Just to make sure, Ill steal up to their door,
For never spoke harsh to my darlings belcre."
SO saying he softly ascended the etaira
And arrived at the door heard both Of their prayers
Hls Anne's bless papa" draws forth the big tears,
And Willies grave promise falls sweet on bis ears
'strange strange I'D forgotten" !" said he with sigh,
"How longcd when q child, to have Christmas draw
nigh.
IN atone for my hardness" he inwardly said.
by answering their prayers ere sleep in my red"
Then he turned to the stairs and softly down,
Threw of velvet slippers and silk dressing gown
Donned hat coat and boots and went outin the atreet
mtllonaire facing the cold, driving seet,
Nor stopped he until he had bought everything,
From the box full Of candy to the tiny gold ring;
Indeed. he kept adding so much to his store,
That the various presents outnumberel score,
Then homeward he turned with his holiday load,
And with Aunt Mary's help In the nursery twas
slowed;
Miss oily was seated beneath pine tree,
BY the side Of = table spread out for her tea;
A work. boz wellnled In the centre VA lad,
And on it the ring for which Annie had prayed
soldier In uniform stood by the sled,
with bright shining runners, and all painted red
There were balls dcgs ard horses books pleasing 10
see,
And birds Of all colors were rerched in the tree,
While Santa Claus, laughing, stooi up In the top.
Al If getting ready more presents to drop,
And as tfe fond father the picture surveyed,
He thought for his trouble he had amply been paid.
And he said to himself a he brushed Of tear
I'm happier tonight than I've been tor year.
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever BEFORE
What care II bank stock falls down ten per cent.
more!
Hereafter III make it rule believe,
To have Santa Claus visit US each Christmas Eve"
10 thinking, he gently extinguished the light,
And tripped down the stairs to retire for the night
Az soon as the beams Of the bright sun
Put the darkness TO flight and the one By one
-Four little blue eyes cut of sleep opened wide,
And at the same moment the presents esplcd,
Then out Of their beds they sprang with q bound,
And the ver3 gifts prayed for were a Of them found
They laughed and they cried In their innocent giee
And shouted for "papa' to come quick and zee
What presents old Santa Claus brought In the night
(Just the things that they wantcd) ard left before
"And ow." added Annie, In 4 voice soft ard low,
"You'n believe there's santa Claus papa, knows"
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, 20 long ago dead,
Csed to knee down and pray BY the side Of her CHAIR
And that God up in heaven had answered her prayer!
Then We dot up and payed dest q well a. We tould,
And Dod answered our payers, now want He dood?"
Il should say He was II He sentyou all these,
And know just what presents my children would
please.
(Well, we'll, let him think 10. the dear little elG
TWould be cruel to tell him did It myselO."
Blind father, who caused your stern heart to rclent?
And the hasty word spoken 30 soon to repent?
Twas the Being who bade You steal softly upstairs
And made you His agent to answer their prayer
Mrs Sophia p. Snow.
|. BANG6'5 CLARA.