Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-12-29
A1NIE AND w1LL1ES PRA YER.

ANNLh Avn WILLIE ~ Fhd lEh,
Twas the eve before Christmas. Good night
had been said
And Annie aud Willie had crept into bed;
There were tears on their pillows, and tears In
And each little bosom was heavy with sighs;
For tonight their stern fathers command had
That they should retire precisely at seven,
Instead OF eight; for they troubled him more
With queetions unheard OF than ever before.
lie had told them he thought this delusion a sin,
No such being as Santa Claus" ever had been;
And he hoped, after this, he should never more
hear
How he scrambled down chimnoys with presents
each year.
And this was the reason that two little heads
So rcstlessly tossed on their soft downy beds
Eight nine, and the clock on the steeple tolled
ten
Not word had been spoken by either till then.
When Willie's sad face from the blanket did peep
And whispered: Dear Annie, " you fast aseepi
"Why, no, Brother Willie" q sweet voice replies
" have tried It in vain, but can't shut my eyes
For, somehow. IL makes me so sorry because
Dear papa has eaid there Is no Santa Claus
Now we know there ". and II can't be denied,
For he came every year before mamma died;
But then, I've been thinking that she used TO pray,
And God would hear everything mamma would
say.
And perhaps she asked Him to send Santa Claus
here
with the sacks full Of presents he brought every
year.
" Wen. why tant we pay dest az mamma did then.
I've been thinking go too And without a
word more
Four little bare feet bounded out on the noor,
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed
And two tiny hands were clasped close to each
breast.
That the presents we ask for we're sure to receive
You must wait just as still till say the Amen
And by that you will know that your turn has
come then:
Dear Jesus look down on my brother and me,
And grant us the favor we're asking OF Thee;
| want wax dolly, tea set and ring,
And an ebony box that shuts with spring;
Bless papa. dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That Santa Claus loves us far better than hes
Don't let him get fretful and angry again
At dear brother Willie and Annie Amen.m
Please, Desus, et Santa Taus' tum down tonight
And bring us some presents before It is light;
want he should dive me nice little sed,
With bright shiny runners, and all painted yed;
box full Of tandy, n 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 slumber, both peaceful and
deep,
And with fairies in dreamland were roaming in
sleep.
Eight, nine and the little French clock had struck
Ere the father had thought Of his children again:
He seems now to hear Annie's half-suppressed
sighs,
And to see the big tears stand in willie's blue
~ was harsh with my darlings, he mentally said,
And should not have sent them 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 forgotten their troubles ere
this,
And that denied them the thrice-asked- for kiss;
But just to make sure, I'll steal up 10 their door,
For never spoke harsh to my darlings before"
SO saying, he softly assembled the stairs,
And arrived at the door to hear both OF their pray
His Annie's "bless papa" draws forth the big
And Wllle's grave promise falls sweet on his ears
Strange, strange, I'd forgotten" said he with
sigh,
How, 1 ionged when childto have Christmas
draw nigh.
I'll atone for my harshness," he inwardly said,
BY answering their prayers ere | sleep in my
bed
Then he turned to the stairs and softly went down,
Threw of velvet slippers aud silk dressing-gown
Donned hat, coat and boots, and was out in the
street,
A millionaire facing the cold. driving sleet.
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 outnumbered a score;
Then hOmeward he turned with his holiday load
And with Aunt Mary's help in the nursery twas
slowed;
Miss Dolly was seated beneath pine tree.
By the side OF Il table spread out for her tea;
A work well filed in the center was laid,
And on it the ring for which Annie had prayed.
soldier in uniform stood by sled,
with bright shining runners and all painted
red
And birds of all colors were perched in the tree.
While Santa Claus, laughing, stood up in the top
AS II getting ready more presents to drop;
And az the fond father the picture surveyed,
He thought for his trouble he had amply been
paid.
And he said to himself as he brushed off a tear:
I'm happier tonight than I've been for year;
I've enjoyed more true happiness than ever before.
What care II bank stock falls ten per cent more
Hereafter I'll make il IA rule, believe,
To have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas Eve"
SO thinking he gently extinguished the light,
And ripped 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
Four little blue eyes out of sleep opened wide,
And at the same moment the presents espied.
Then out of their beds they sprang with u bound,
And the very gifts prayed for were all OF them
They laughed and they cried in their innocent glee
And shouted for papa" to come quick and see
What presents old Santa Claus brought in the
night,
Dust the things which they wanted) and left be.
fore light.
"And now. added Annie, in voice soft and low,
You'll believe there's Santa Claus, papa, l
While dear little Willie climbed up on his knee,
Determined no secret between them should be,
And told in soft whispers how Annie h had said
That their dear blessed mamma, so long ago dead.
Used TO kneel down and pray by the side OF her
chair,
And that God up in heaven had answered her
Then we dot up and payed dust as well as we
tould,
And bod answered our payers, now wasn't He
doOdin
should say that He was IL He sent you all these
And knew just what presents my children would
please
(well well. let him think 70, the dear little elf,
'Twould be cruel TO tell him did il myselDn
Blind father who caused your stern heart to re-
lent,
And the hasty word spoken 90 soon to repenty
Twas the Lord who bade you steal softly upstairs
And made you His agent TO answer their prayers
Mrs Sophia p. SnotD