National Republican., 1886-12-25
ANNIr,s AND w1LL1E,s PRAYER
ny ga PROVIDENCE LApY.n

'Twastho eve before Christmas Good night
had bccn said.
And Annie and Willie had crept into bed
There were teais on their pillows aud tears Ia
And each little bosom was heavy with sighs-
For tonight their stern fathers command hed
That they should retire precisely at seven,
Inst, nd of eight for they troubled him more
WITH questions unheard of than ever before:
He Lad told them he thought this deluslon
No such being rs santa Claus evcrbqd been,
And he hoped, after this, he should never
How he scrambled down chimneys with pres.
ents each year.
And this was the reason that two little heads
80 Tcstlessly tossed on their soft downy beds
Eight, nine, and the clock on the stceple tolled
Not n word ad been spoken by either Till then,
When Willie's sad face from the blanket did
And Whispered, "Dear Annie, is you fast
0secp"
"wby, 20, brother Willie" sweet voice re-
"rvetied II in vain, but can't shut my eyes
FOR somehow, 1t makes me so sorry, because
Dear papa has said there Is no Santa Claus
Now we know there is. and II can't be deniel
For ho cntno every year before mamma died
But, then, I've bGcn thinking that she used to
pfNy,
And Cod would hear everything mamma would
say:
And rerhars she asked him to send Santa
With lhc sacks full of presents he brought
"welll, why 'tan't we pay, dust as mamma did
then,
Ard ask Him to send him with presents aden?"
i've been thinking so, too" And without
-Four little bnre feet bounded out on the floor,
Aud four little knees the soft carpet pressed
And two tiny hands were clasDed close to each
i. Now, Willie, you know we must firmly be.
licve
That tic presents we ask for we're sure to re-
ccive.
You must wait just as still till I say the
Amen
And Ly that, you win know that your turn has
come then"
"Dcar Jesus, look down on my brotherand me,
And grant us a favor we are asking of Thee.
Iwent awax dolly, a tea set aud ring,
And an ebony work-box that shuts with q
plcss papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to see
That Santa Claus loves us far better than he.
Don't lct him get frGtiul and angry again
"Plense, Desus, 'et Santa Taus tum down to
night,
And bring Us some presents before it Is light,
i want he should div me nice little scd
With bright, shiny runners, aud all painted
box full of tandy, book and a toy.
Amen, and then. Desus. I'll be dool boy"
Their prayers being ended, they raised up their
heads,
And with hearts light and cheerful again
They were soon lost in slumber, both peaceful
And with fairies in Dreamland were roaming
Eight, nine, and the little French clock has
Ere the father had thought of his children
He seems now to hear Annle's half.suppre'sed
And to see the big tears stand in willie's blue
'I was harsh with my darlings," he mentally
said,
"And should not have sent them so 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,
And that denied them tho thrice asked-for
kiss;
But just to make sure, I'll steal up to their
door,
For never spoke harsh to my darlngs be-
So saying he softly nscended the stairs,
And arrived at the door TO hear both OF their
His Annle's "bless papa" draws forth the big
And Wllilc's grave promise falls sweet on his
STRANGE strange I'd forgotten" said he with
sigh,
show ! longed,. when a child, for to have
ann, Christmas draw nigh e, l.. ,,,.
"By answering their prayers ere sleep in my
Then he turned 10 the stairs and softly went
down,
Threw OIL velvet slippers and silk dressing
Donned hat, coat, and boots, and was out in
A millionaire facing the cold, driving sleot.
Nor stopped he until he had bought every
From The BOX full of candy to the tiny gold
Indeed, he kept adding so much to his store,
That the various presents outnumbered a score.
Then homeward he turned with his holiday
And with Aunt Marys aid in the nursery twas
Miss Dolly was seated beneath a pine tree,
BY the side OF table spread out for her tea:
A work box, well filed in the center was laid,
And on 1t q ring for which Annie had prayed
a soldier In uniform stood by Sled,
with 1dG bright shining runners, and all painted
There We're balls, dogs and horses, books
And birds Of ali cOlo'rs were pcrchcd in the
tree:
While Santa Claus, laughing, stood up in the
top,
And as The fond father the picture surveyed,
He thought for his trouble he had amply been
And lie said to himself as he brushed of a
tear,
"Tm happier tonight than I've b:en for a
year.
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever be-
fore,
What care ifbink stock falls ten per cent.
mOre
Hereafter IN make II a rule, believe,
TO have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas
SO thinking, he gently extinguished the light,
And tTipped down the stairs 10 retire for the
As soon as the beams of the bright morning
Put tho darkness to flight, and the stars one by
-Four little blue eyes out of sleep opened wide
And at the same moment the presents espied.
Then out OF their beds they sprGns with a
And the very gifts prayed for were all of them
They laughed and they cried in their innocent
And shouted for "papa" to come quick and
What presents old Santa Claus brought in the
night,
Just the things that they wanted) and left be-.
"And now,T added Annie, in a voice soft and
low,
"You'li believe there's a Santa Claus, papa, I
While dear little Willie climbed up on his
Determined no secret between them should be-;
And told, in soft whispers, how Annie had
That their dear, blessed mamma, so long ago
dead,
Used to kneel down aud pray by the side of
her chair,
And that God UP in heaven had answered her
prayer
"ThcIi we dot up and payed dust as well us we
tould
And bod answered our prayers, now wasn't
lie doOd?"
81 should say that lie was, if He sent yol all
these,
And knew Just what presents my children
We'll, well, let him think so, the dear little
elf,
'Twould be cruel to tell him did It mysolG")
Blind father! who caused your stern heart to
ieenH -..--.-..,