Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-12-24
Annie end VviIlie's Prayer.


And Annie and Willie had orapt into bed
There we're tears on the pillows. and tears 10
their eyes,
And each ittle bosom was heavy with sighs-,
For to night their stern fathers conuard had
been given.
That they should retire precisely Of seven
Iostead of eight; for they troubled him moro
With questions upheard Of than ever betcrei
He bad told them be thought this dcluslon
No such being as "Sabts CLAUSE" ever had b!ep,
And be hoped after this. be should Fever no;e
hear
How be SCRAMBLED down chinntys with pFts-
ents each year.
And this was The reis,n that Two little beads
80 rts:lessly tossed on their soft, doWuy bees
Eight. nine. and tho clcck 10 the sseeIla toled
Not WORD bad been spoken ty ,iher ill Their,
When WilIie's sad tsc, from lha blanket did
peep,
AID whispered, Dear Aurie. is you fist
asIeep2"
why, no, brother Willie" swoss Vic, ra-
plies.
i've tried it 10 vaio. but cart shut ny eyes,
For, somehow, it makes M 30 sorry because
Dear papa bas sid there is no Santa Vi iu';
Now ", know there is. add il ONT b. dcpled,
For he came every year beters mamma died
But Their, IVe besn ttiokiOg that sho us:d TO
PREY. :,
And God soull Lear iv:rythicg manma Would
sly,
AID perhaps she'd ok Him TO Sud Sau!a
Claus here
With The ssok foil of presents 90 brought eVef2
year"
Ill bv -, poo DID dan
Aud ssk Him TO send him with presents alden Z
Two been thioking 80, too" nd vi hou
word more
T, Ut little bare feet bounded GU. ca tho Il 'cf.
And four little knees the soft c,rpet pressed.
Ard two tiny hands were casped o!oSs to cach
breast,
snow Willie you know You must firmly b:!'>Vo
That the presents We ak Tor we're sure to re-
You must wait jast as still til say Tho 'Autr,'
And by that you will knew that your turn has
ON, then"
"Dsar Jstus lock down or ny brother ard nae,
AID grant us the favor We ara aski0g OF Thee,
| want q WsX dolly; tea set and rlrg.
AID on ebony w.rk box That shu:a with
spring;
Bless papa, dear Jesus, ADD cause him TO SO
That S:uta Claus loves Us far better than ne,
Don't let him get frstful and apgrY again
At dear brother Willie and Auuie, Amen J.
Please, D,sus, let Santa Taus tome down to-
night
And bring us som presents before it 10 light.
| want be should dive me rioo little sec;
With bright, abiry ruoners. and all psiatoc y,C;
A box full Of tendy boz and toy.
Amen, ard then. Desus. III be good boz"
Their Iray'rs bling ended, they r,isd their
heads,
AID With hearts liz b! and cheerful sgsiu sought
their beds
THY ware soon lost in s'u nber beth peaceful
and deep.
Aad With fairies 10 DfcamIaud w;rs reauiog
10 sleep.
Eisht, nine. and the liuls Fforch dock he'd
struck ten,
E:e lhs father had thought Ct his Children
agsi:;
Ho seems DOW TO hear Anti hslt suppress d
Sigh.
Ard 10 see The big tears SAID 10 WILLIS b!aa
II was harsh With my dsrliuzs," he ms5laIy
ssi1.
And should not have ssnt them 30 early 10 bef:
Bot then | was tIoublsd-ny felltcgs iduDd
vent
Fur bank stock 10 day has COCO dOEn Ioa per
But of oourso they've forgot their truIl:s GRO
this.
Ard that l denisd them The thr;cI asked fer
kiss;
But Just to make sure, I'll SEA- up TO lie door.
Fur | never spoke harsh TO MP darIibg; bsiJre.
50 ssyiog be softly assembled the sssi;s
Add arrived at the door to hear bo:h OF theic
nrapers
His Aonie's "blss' pspa," draws ftOn him
big tears.
And WilIio's gray, promise falls sweet 90 his
Strange. strange, Ia forgotten" sell he With
How 1 logged when ch,ld to hsv. Christ.
mas draw nigh.
"l'l atone fer my harshntsss." ho iuwardg
said.
by answering their prayers e'o sleep 10 n'
bed"
Tben be u:utd to the stairs aDd solt!y wcDt
down;
Threw off velvet slippers ard silk dr2 nz etwa.
Donre1 hat, coat and bootp, AID WAS Gu: 10 The
street,
A millionaire facing the cold. driving slee';
Nor stopped he until be had bought everything,
From the box tul of oauGy TO the tioy gold ring.
Indeed be KEEP. adding 80 much to bis store,
That the various presents outnum 5ercd soorc.
Then homeward he turned with holiday load,
And With Auat Msr5's aid in the rursrry Twas
slowed;
By The side of table spread GU. for her tel;
A work box we'll filled in the centre vas laid,
And on it ,ing, for which Anpis had prayed,
A soldier 10 uniform stood by sled.
with BRIGHT shining rluuers and ell paiated
red."
There were b,ls, Digs apd hlr5ss. pl.sslag to
see,
Aud birds of all cocrs pelohed 10 tret;
While Santa Claus laughing, stood in tho top
As if getto9 rosdv moro presents to droI;
And ss tho fond father the pi,.ure Surveyed,
He thought for bis trouble be had amply bocn |
paid,
Aud he said TO himself, as he truibed eff tear.
I'm happier to night than Iva bsen Ter
year.
I've dyed more lrus pleasure THAI ever
before.
Is ~. L oyfo ~ P,ilo fon NAN