The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-01-07
CHRISTMAS EVE.
Annie and Willie's Praye

Twas the eve before Christmas: Good night
had been said,
| And Annie and Willie had crept into bed;
There were tears on their pillows, and tears
And each ZACH little bosom was heaving with
For tonight their stern fathers commands
had been given,
That they should retire precisely at seven.
Instead OF eight; for they troubled him more
With questions unheard of than ever before;
He told them he thought this delusion sin,
80 such thing Is sSanta Claus" ever mad
Axd he hoped, after this, he should never
How he scrambled down chimneys with
presents each year.
50 Testiessiy tossed On their son downy beds.
Eight, nine, and the clock on the steepie toll
Not word had been spoken by either till
wAsn WINES SAD face from the blanket did
And whispered, " Dear Annie. is You fast
| aSleepi'
" Why no, brother Willie" sweet voice
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
| NOW We know That there Is, and 1t can't be
For he came every year before mamma died ;
But, then, I've been thinking that she used
And God would hear everything mamma
And perhaps She asked Him to send santa
Clans" here,
With the sacks full of presents he brought
We'll; why tan't we pray dest as mamma
And ad ask Him to send him with presents
''rye been thinking so too.'' And without a
| word more
Four little bare feet bounded out on the floor.
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed
And two tiny hands We're clasped to each
Now. Willie, you know we mnst firmly be-
That the presents we ask for we are sure to
You mnst wait just as still till say Amen ;
And by that ye1 will know that your turn
Dear Jesus. look down on my brother and
| me,
And grant us the favor We are asking Of
/ want a wax doll, tea set and ring,
Ana an ebony work-bOS that shuts with a
Bless papa. dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That santa Claus loves us far better than he,
AZ dear brother Willie and Annie. Amen
PLEASE, Desus, let Santa Taus tune down
And bling us some presents before it is light,
want he sould dive me a nice little sled,
with bright shinin' gunner, and all painted
A box full of tandy, book and a toy,
! Amen, and then Desns, I'll he a dood boy.''
Their PRAYERS being ended they raised NJ
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
g struck ten,
Ere the father had thought of his children
He seems now to hear Annie's haif-suppress
ed sigh,
And see the big tears stand in willie's blu'
, 81 was harsh with my darlings," he mentally
And should not have sent them so early tC
bed;
+ But then was troubled-my feelings fount
> For bank stock to-day has gone down ten PEE
cent.
But Of course they've forgot their trouble or,
And that denied them the thrice ask-fol
But just to make sure, I'll steal up to thei
For never spoke cross to my darliugs before
! So saying he softly assembled the stairs,
, Ana arrived at che door to hear both of theil
His Annie's ''bless papa" draws fol tn the bi.
| And whites grave promise falls sweet to hi
l Strange, strange I'd forgotten" said he will
asigh.
How Ionged when child to have Christ
mas draw nigh,
:, I'll atone for my harshness," he fnwardl.
said,
by answering their prayers ere sleep il
Then he turned to the stairs and softly wen
\ Threw or velvet slippers and silk dressinj
Q Donned hat, coat and boots, and was out il
e A millionaire facing the fast driving sleet,
Nor stopped he until he had bought every
I From the box full of candy to the tiny gol
Indeed he kept adding so much to his store,
Inat the various presents outnumbered
= score
Then homeward he turned with his hoIida
And with Aunt Mary's help in the nurser
twas slowed;
q Miss dolly was seated beneath pine tree,
By the side of q table spread out for her tea
r A work box well filed in the center was IaiC
And on il the ring for which Annie ha
}, A soldier in uniform stood up by a sled,
with bright shining runners and all painte
: There were balls. dogs and horses, book
r pleasing to see,
And birds of an cclors were perched in tn
While Santa Claus laughing. stood up i
AS il getting ready more presents to drop.
. He thought for his trouble he had amply bee
And he SAID to himself as he brushed of
N "rm happier tonight than I've been for
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than eve
/" What care if bank stock falls ten per cen
l. Hereafter I'll make it a rule believe,
Z, To have Santa Claus" visit us each Christ
So thinking he gently extinguishod the iigh
And tripped down the stairs to retire for til
. AS soon as the beams of the bright mOrnin
!. Put the darkness to flight, and the stars on
>, Four little blue eyes out of sIlep, opened wild
And at the same moment the presents espie'
% Then out OF their beds they sprang with
n And the very gifts prayed for were all of the
Y. They laughed and they cried in their innOcer
70 And shOuted for ''papa' to come quick an
n see,
" What presents old "santa Claus brought i
just the things they wanted, anu left befol
=, And now added Annie, in voice soft an
|. "YOp,ll believe there's santa Claus pap
70 While dear little Willie climbed up on Ii
knee,
Determined no secret between them shout
And told in soft whispers. how Annie Ia
That their dear blessed mamma 50 long as
r. Used to kneel down and pray by the side
l. And that God up in Heaven had answers
r. Then We dot up and prayed dest as well
y And bod answered our payer, now WASH
= He doodg"
3 81 should say that He was, if He sent you a
{, these,
d And knew just what presents my childr,
would please.
8 swell. well, let him think so the dear lit
Is elf,
a 'Twonld he cruel to tell him did it myself
y Blind father, who caused your stern heart
n relent,
a And the hssty words spoken SO soon to T
penty
; Twas the Being who babe You start softly 1
= = And made you His agent to answer the
u prayers.
,e MRS. SOPHIA P SNOW.
The Burlington and Ottawa RailrOa
p The following from the Burlington p
10 triOt we clip for the benefit of such FL
p porians as are asleep on the railrol
d question:
). Major w. H. Schofeld writes us he
busy laying down the ties and iron on Il
a Williamsburg section OF this road, and e.
= poets to run the cars into Wiliiamsbul
- before the close OF winter, and then b
L objective point is Burlington, where