Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-12-20
Seletted guetrg.
ANNIE AND WILLIE's PRAYER.

...". SFlfflea CURRY.
ANNIE AND wILLIE's PRAYER.
CHRISTMAS CAROL.
Twas the eve before Christmas; Good night had
And Annie and Willie had crept into bed;
There were tears their pillows and tears in their
eyes,
And each little bosom was heavy with sighs-;
been given,
That thew should retire precisely at seven,
Instead of at eight: for they troubled him more
With questions unheard ofthan ever before;
He had told them he thought this deiusion sin'
No such thing as Santa Claus ever had been;
And he hoped after this he never should hear
How he scrambled down chimneys with presents
..s-. each year.
And this was the reason why TWO hteie hea9s
So restlessly tossed on their soft, downy beds.
Eight nine and the clock in the steeple toled ten
Not word had been spoken by either till then,
When Wilie's sad face from the blankets dld peep,
And whispered, Dear Annie, is you iast asleeR!
"Pve 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 there is, and 1t can't De denleo,
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
And perhaps she asked Him to send Santa Claus
With his sack full of presents he brought every
year." ,
"Weli. why tant we pay des as mamma did then,
"Pve been thinking so, too" And withouta word
Four little bare feet bounded out on the floor,
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed,
And two tiny hands were clasped close TO each
breast.
"Now, Willie, you know, we must firmly believe
That the presents weask 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
"Dear Jesus look down on my brother and msa me-
And grant us the favor we are asking OF Thee;
wants a wax dolly, a tea-set and ring;
And nebony work box, that SINUS Wl'n s spfi"s'
Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him TO see
That Santa Claus loves us far better than ne;
Don't let him get fretful and angry again go
At dear brother Willie and Annie. Amen )!
please Jesus, let Santa Taus tnm down 1-nlgn'
And bring us some presents before it is light;
want he should give me nice little SLED,
with bright shiny runner. and all painted yed;
A box full OF tandy, a book and toy,
Their prayers being ended, they raised up their
And with hearts light and cheerful again sought
They were soon lost in slumber, both peaceful and
And with fairies in dreamland were roaming in
sleep.
Eight. nine, and the little French clock struck ten
Ere the father had thought Of his children again
He seemed now to hear Annie's half-suppressed
And to see the big tears stand in willes blue eyes
~ was harsh to my darlings" ne mentally sala
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
And that idenied them the thrice asked for kiss ;
But Just to make sure, I'll steal up to their door,
Forf never spoke harsh to my darlings before
So saying he softly ascended the stairs,
And arrived at the door, heard ooth OF tne prayers h
His Annies ''bless papa" draws forth the olg
And Willie'sgrsve promise falls sweeton his ears
s'Strange, strange I'd forgotten" said he with
SHOW ionged, when child, to have Christmas
draw nigh!' >,
''I'll atone for my harshness," he inwardiy sald,
"By answering their prayers ere sleep IN my
bed -
Then he turned to the stairs and softly went down.
Threw off velvet slippers and silk dressing gown,
Donned hat, coat and boots, and was out IN the
street,
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 q score
Then homeward he turned with his holiday load
stored.
Miss Dolly was seated beneath pine tree,
By the side of a table spread out for her tea;
Awork box we'll filled in the centre was laid,
And on it ring for which Annie had prayed.
A soldier in uniform stood by sled;
With bright, shining runners all painted RED;
There were ball, dogs and horses, books pleasing
to see,
And birds Of all colors were perched in the tree
While Santa Claus, laughing stood up in the top,
AS if getting ready more presents to drop.
And as the fond father this picture surveyed,
He thought for his trouble he had been amply
paid, -..
And he said to himself as he brushed off a tear,
"I'm happier to night than I've been for year
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever before:
What care if bank stock fall ten per cent. more!
Hereafter I'll make it rule, believe,
To Santa Claus visit US each Christmas Eve"
so thinking he gently extinguished the light,
And trpped down the stairs to retire for the night
As soon az the beams of the bright morning sun
Put the darkness to flight and the stars one by one
Fonr little blue eyes out Of sleep opened wide,
And at the same moment the presents esped;
Then out of their beds they sprang with bound,
And the very gifts they prayed for sii OF them
found.
They laughed and they cried in their innocent
r.. glee,
And shouted for ''papa,' to come quick and see
What presents old Santa Claus brought IN the
(Just the things that they wanted and left before
light, -a -, ..
"And now," said Annie, in voice soft and low,
'sYou believe there's Santa Claus, papa, Know
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, so long ago dead
Used to kneel down and pray by the side Of her
chair,
And that Goo in Heaven had answered her prayer;
"Den we dot up and prayed dust as well as we
tould,
And God answered our prayers. now wasn't that
dood?'
81 should say that He was if he sent you all these
And knew just what presents my children would
please, -,
WELL we'll, let him think so, the dear little elf,
'Twould be cruel to tell him did it myself'')
Blind father. who caused your stern heart to
relent?
And the hasty word spoken so soon to repent?
Twas the Being who made you steal softly up
stairs
And made you His agent to answer their prayers !!