The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-12-26
ANNIE AND wILLrE,s PRAYER.
BY Mss SOPHIA P. STOW.

ANNE AND WlLLIE's PhAfEk'
BY MISS SOPHIA p sKow.
Twas the eve before Christmas; ''GOOd night
had Teen said.
And Annie and Willie had crept into bed;
There were tears on their pillow, and tears
And each IiItIe bosom was heavy with sighs;
For tonight their stern fathers command
hal been given.
That they should retire precisely at seven.
o. 9gn'i aSe ans Sr N ,n ever bsioTe
lie had toll them he Thought thistdeluslon
No such being as -santa Claus" ever had
And he hoped after this he should never more
How he scrambled down chImneys with pres
And this " as the reason that two little heads
Eight, nine, and the clock On The steePle
Not ' word had had been spoken by either till
when Whites sad face from the blanket did
And Whispered. 'Dear Annie. Is you fast
why. no. brother wnIie.' sweet voice re-
i've irI d it in vain, but can't shut m,
ss. soi,., iiuM II makes me sorry becsuze
bear ,.p.. ..tla there 10 No -SatEtsa t.l1'.7s
NpA sc AEO@ there IL. and IL can he aeIIie.i,
But then ryebscn thinking that she used 10
And tod would hear. eversthin8 mamma
And perhaps she asked him to send Santa
With the sacks full of presents he brought ev-
cry year"
Nv II. Why tan't we pay dest as mamma did
And ask Him to send him with presents
aden?'
Four little bare feet bounded out on the floor;
And two thy hands were clasped close to
Sow. Willie, you know We nj ust firmly be-
That Ie presents we ak for we're sure to re-
You must wait just as still ill say the
And by Ihas you will know that yOEr time
has come then"
.Dt ar Jesus, lock down on my brother and
And grant US the favor we are asking OF thee;
want a wax dolly. u tea set and ring,
And an ebony work-box that shuts with
Bless Papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That santa Claus loves us lar better tnan he;
Don't let MIN get fretfui and angry again
At dear brother Willie and Annie, Amen"
please. Desus. ct Santa Claus tum down tc-
And bring us some presents before it Is light
I want he SHOULD give me nice little sed,
With bright shinin' runners, and all painted
box full of tandy. u book, and toy,
Amen and then, Desus. I'll be . good boy"
Their prayers. being ended, they raised up
and with hearts light and cheerful. again
sought their beds.
They were coon lost in slumber, both peaceful
And with fairies in .lreamland were roaming
in sleep.
Eight. hine. and the little French clock had
Ere the father hac thought of his children
lie seems now to hear Annie's half suppress
And to see the big tears stand in wnlie's
Il was harsh with my darlinss." lie mentally
sand should not have sent them SO. carly to
Blu, then was trOublel-my feelings found
For banh stock to day has gone down ten per
But of course they've forgotten their troubles
ere this,
And that denied them the thrice-asked-fOr
But. just to make sure. I'll steal up to the door
For never spoke harsh to my darlings be-
So saying, he softly assembled the stairs.
And arrived at the door 10 hear both their
His Annie's ''Bless papa" drew forth the big
tears,
And whites grave promise fell sweet on his
Strange, strange. I'D forgotten" said he
with u sigh.
| mas draw nigh
I'll atone for my harshness," he Inwardly
| said,
Then he turned to the stairs and softly wen
Threw on velvet slippers and silk dressing
/ gown,
DoAned hat. coat, and boots, and was out il
A mlssionaire facing the cold driving sleet,
/ Nor stopped until he had bought everything
From the boxfull of candy to the tiny goiI
Indeed. he kept adding so much to his store
That the various presents outnum6ered
Then homeward he turned with his holiday
And with aunt Mary's help. in the nursery
Miss Dolly was seated beneath a pine tree,
! nv the side of table spread cut for her tea
| A work box, well filled, in the center wa'
! laid.
| And on il ring for which Annie had prayed
! 4 soldier in uniform stood by sled,
With bright shining runners, and all painted
There were dogs. balls. and horses. books
And birds OF all colurs were pearched il
the tree;
! While santa Claus, laughing, stood up In the
As IL getting ready more presents to drop.
| And as the fond father the picture surveyed
lie thought for his trouble he had been am
| ply paid;
And he said to himself Is he brushed OF q
| tear:
I'm happier tonight than I've been for /
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever be
! fore;
What care 1 if bank stock falls ten per cent
Hereafter IN make it a rule. believe,
To have santa Claus visit us each Christmas
So thinking. he softly extinguished the iigh
And tripDed down tue stairs 20 retire for thu
| night.
As soon as the beams of the bright morning
Put the darkness to flight. and the stars one
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 I
And the very gifts prayed for were all of then
| found
They laughed and they cried in their iunocen
glee,
And shouted for papa" to come quick anC
What presents old Santa Claus brought in tn,
night
Just the things that they wantedl and lef
And now" added Annie, in voice soft ant
low,
You ii believe there's Santa Claus, papa,
While dear little Willie climbed up on nj
i knee,
Determined no secret between them SHOULD
| DE,
And told in soft Whispers. how Annie ha'
said,
That their dear, blessed mamma, SO long ag
! dead,
Used to knecl down and pray by the eide o
her chair,
:. And that Col up in heaven had answered he
prayer;
THAT we dot up ami prayed dust as well a
we tould.
And 10 answered our PRAYERS. now WASH
He dOO1Y
~ should say tina lie was. If he sent you al
these,
And knew just what presents my childrel
would please.
(well To- him think so, the dear little elf.
'Iwould lie cruel to tell him did it mys' III
Blind father! Who caused your stern heart
relcnts
And the hasty word spoken so soon to repent
Twas the Being Who made you steal sOitl
up stairs,
And made you his agent to answer their pray
ers.
THE ART OF GOING AWAY.
1t has been said that one of the mos
immport social accomplishments is tina