The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-12-23
Select Roetrg.
a NN1E AND wILLIE's PRAYER.
BY SOPHIA P. SNOW.

Ind each little bosom was heaVy Win sishS'
For tonight their stern fathers command hau oeeh
given
That they must retire precisely at seven
1nstead of eight; for they troubled MIN more
with questions unheard oftnan ever pei'ie'
He told them he thought this delusion d sih'
n o,,cb q thing as Santa Claus ever had been,
And he hoped. after this he shoud never more near
rIn,r ba scrambled down chimneys with presents
each year.
-, +his is the reason why two little heads
q rostlass,v tossed on their soft, downy beds.
.r;b+ nine and the clock the steeple tolled ten
~ . word had been spoken by either till them
-,,h, viIIie's sad face from the blanket did peep
a nd ,yhispered, Dear Annie, is you fast asleep
sswbv no brother Willie" sweet voice replles'
nI,ve tried in vain, but can't shut my eyes;
For somehow it makes me so sorry because
noor mana had said there is no Santa Claus;
~, ,ce tnow there is and it can't be denied,
For he came every year before mamma dleo'
Rut then I've been thinking that she used to pray,
nd God would hear everything mamma would say
And perhaps she asked him to send SANTA Iiau'
here ,. ..ou,
year" A., .,or
aWell, why tant we pay dest as mamma uiu tieN'
And ask him to send him with presents aoeh!
s.T,ve heen thinking so, too, and without word
more
sror hare little feet bounded out on the floor,
-, forr little knees the soft carpet pressed
And two tiny hands were clasped close TO each
breast.
Now Willie, YOU know we must firmly believe
rbat the presents we ask for we're sure to receive
Non must wait lust as still till say amen,
And nv that YOU will know that your turn has come
them
sDear Jesus. look down OH my brother and me,
And grant us the favor we're skiing OF tnee:
fI want nice book full of pictures, rlng'
& A writing desk, too, that shuts with spring.
Bless papa dear Jesus, and cause him 10 see
rbot santa Claus loves US as much even as he;
*Don't let him get fretful and angry again
At dear brother Willie and Annie, Amen!
..plassa Desus, 'et Santa Taus tome down tonight
And hiring lis some presents before it is light.
3 r want he sould dive me a bright little box,
Full of &C obats some other nice BLOCKS
And bag full of tandy, a book and a toy,
81 Amen. and then Desus, I'll be dood boy.
1Their prayers being ended, they raised up thelr
heads
And with hearts light and cheerful again sought
their beds;
deep,
sleep.
Eight nine and the little French clock had struck
ten
Ere the father had thought of his children again
He seems now to hear Annie's shalf-smothereds signs,
And to see the big tears standing in Willies blue
eyes.
al was harsh with my darings," he mentally sald'
"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 forgot their troubles ere this
But then denied them the thrice-asked for kiss;
But lust to make sure I'll steal up to their door,
For never spoke harsh to my darlings before"
So saving he softly ascended the stairs,
And arriving at their door hea rd both of their pray
erS.
His Annie's "blesF papa" draws forth the big tears
And WillieS grave promise falls sweet on his ears.
Strange, strange I've forgotten said he with q
sigh,
How Ionged when a child to have Christmas
draw nigh.
I'll atone for my harshness,' he inwardly said,
"By answering their prayers sleep in my bed
linen ne TURNED 10 the SLdlTS ullu SOtl1
Threw off velvet slippers and silk dressing gown,
Donned hat coat and boots and was out in the
street
A millionaire facing the cold winter sleet;
He first went to wonderful Santa Claus store
(He knew it. for he'd passed it the day before),
And there he found croeods on the same Grand as
he,
Making purchase of presents, with glad heart and
free,
Nor stopped he until he had bought everything
From box full of candy to tiny gold ring.
Indeed he kept adding so much to his store
That the various presents outnumbered score
Then homeward he turned with his holiday load,
And with Aunt Marys aid in the nursery twas
slowed.
N iss Dolly was seated beneath pine tree,
By the side of table spread out for tea
\ writing desk then in the centre laid,
And on it ring for which Annie had prayed
Four acrobats painted in yellow and red
Stood with block house on a beautiful shed;
There balls, 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 ifgetting ready for more presents to drop;
And as the fond father the picture surveyed
He thought for his trouble he had amply been paid
@hlIu uc sdlu 10 uIulSell dS DFuSueu ledTs
u m happier tonight than I've been for year.
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever before,
What care il bank stock falls ten per cent more?
Hereafter I'll make it rule, l believe,
To have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas eve"
So thinking he gently extingushed the light,
And trpped down stairs to retire for the night
As soon as the beams of the bright morning sun
Put the darkness to flight and the stars by 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 bound,
And the very gifts prayed for were all of them
found
They laughed and they cried in their innocent glee
And shouted for papa to come quick and see
What presents old Santa Claus had brought in the
night
Just the things they had wanted) and left before
light. ..... #-r.r..
"And now" said Annie, in a voice soft and low
You'll 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 heI
chair,
And that God up in heaven, had answered he,
prayer.
Then we dot up and prayed dust as well as We
tould
And bod answered our prayers; now wasn't he
dood?"
Il should say that he if he sent you all these,
And knew just what presents my children would
please.
tWell. well, 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 re-
lent?
Ana the hasty words spoken so soon to repent?
Twas the Being who bade you steal softly up stairs
And made you hisagent to answer their prayers.
CHRISTMAS NIGHT.
BY CELIA THAxTER.
Goodbye, sweet day, good bye
have so loved thee, but cannot hold thee,
inaI 1rna A..