The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-12-19
ANNIE AND wILLIEs PRAYER.


had been said
And Annie and Willie had crept into bed;
There were tears on their pillows and tears In
And each little bosom was heavy with sighs-
Tonight their stern fathers command had been
That they should retire precisely at seven,
Instead of eight, for they troubled him more
With questions unheard of than ever before;
No such person as Santa Claus ever had been,
And he hoped, after this, he should never more
hear
How he scrambled down chimneys with presents
each year.
And this was the reason that two little heads
So restlessly tossed on their soft downy beds;
Eight, nine, and the clock on the steeple tolled
Not word had been spoken by either till then.
When Wilie's sad face from the blanket did
And whispered, "Dear Annie, is you fast tasleep?"
Why no. Brother Willie,r sweet voice replies,
For, somehow it makes me sorry. because
Dear papa has said there's no Santa Claus;
Now, we know there is, and it can't be denied,
For he came every year before mamma died
But, then, I've been thinking that she used to
Ana dads &ounu near NINA won.
say.
And perhaps she asked Him to send Santa Claus
With the sacks full of presents he brought every
year,
well, why tan't we pay dest as mamma did
And ask Him to send him with presents aden ~
I've been thinking SO, too." And without
Four little feet bounded out on the floor,
And four little knees the soft carpet pressed,
And two little hands were clasped close to each
breast.
Now, Willie, you know we must firmly believe
That the presents we ask for we're sure to re-
ceive;
You must wait just as still till 1 say the Amen
And by that you will know that your turn will
come then.
Dear Jesus, look down on my brother and me.
And grant us the favor we are asking of Thee,
/ want wax dolly, tea chest and ring,
And an ebony workbox that shuts with spring.
Bless papa dear Jesus and cause him to see
That Santa Claus loves us far better than he.
Don't let him get fretful and angry again
At dear brother Willie and Annie-Ameni'' ~
please, DesuS, 'et Santa Taus tum down tonight
And bring us some presents before it is light.
l want he should div me nice little sed,
With bright. shiny 'unners, and all painted yed;
A box full of tandy, a book and toy,
Amen, and them Desus, I'll be good boy.''
Their. prayers being ended, they raised up their
heads,
And with hearts light and cheerful again sought
their beds.
They were soon lost in slumber, but peaceful
and deep,
And with fairies in dreamland were roaming in
sleep.
Eight, nine. and the little French clock had
Ere the father had thought of his children again
He seems now to hear Annie's half-suppressed
signs,
~ was harsh with my darlings," he mentally
"And should not have sent them SO early to bed
But then l was troubled; my feelings found
For bank stock today has gone down 10 ber cent.
But, of course, they've forgotten their troubles
ere this;
And that denied them the thrice asked for kiss
But just to make sure, I'll step to their door,
For never spoke harsh to my darlings before"
So saying, he softly ascended the stairs,
And arrived at the door. to hear both of their
prayers
His Annie's "Bless papa" draws forth the big
tears,
And Willie's grave promise falls sweet on his
Strange, strange, I'd forgotten" said he with
sigh,
How | longed when child to have Christmas
I'll atone for my harshness," he inwardly said,
by answering their prayers ere sleep in my
bed."
Then he turned to the stairs and softly went
Threw Off velvet slippers and silk dressing gown.
Donned hat, coat and boots and went out in the
A millionaire facing the cold driving sleet.
Nor stopped he until he had bought everything,
To the box full of candy, the tiny gold ring;
Indeed, he kept adding SO much to his store.
That the various presents outnumbered score.
Then home ward he turned with his holiday load,
And with Aunt Mary's help in the nursery twas
slowed.
Miss Dolly was seated beneath pine tree
By the side of a table set out for her tea;
workbox well filled, in the centre was laid,
And on it the ring for which Annie had prayed.
A soldier in uniform stood by sled
with bright shining runners, and all painted
red"
There were balls, dogs and horses, books pleas
ing to see.
And birds of ali 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 the picture surveyed.
He thought for his trouble he had amply been
And he said to himself, as he brushed off a tear,
I'm happier tonight than I've been for year /;
I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever be-
What care if bank stocks fall 10 per cent more 2
Hereafter I'll make it rule, believe.
To have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas
So thinking. he gently extinguished the light,
And tripped down the stairs to retire for the
AS soon as the beams of the bright morning sun
Put the 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 sprang with bound,
And the very gifts prayed for were all OF thsm
found.
They laughed and they cried in their innocent
glee,
And shouted for papa to come quick and see
What presents old Santa Claus brought in the
night,
Just the things that they wanted) and left be-
"And now,'' added Annie, in 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 dear, blessed mamma, SO long ago dead,
Used to kneel down and pray by the side of her
chair,
And that God up in Heaven had answered her
prayer,
''Then we dot up and prayed dest as we'll as we
TODD,
And bod answered our prayers; now wasn't He
dOod 2"
IT should say that He was, if He sent you al!
these,
And knew just what presents my children would
please.
(Wel, WE'LL let him think SO, the dear little elf,
'Twould be cruel to tell him did it myself.'D
Blind father who caused your stern heart to
relent,
And the hasty words spoken so soon to repent
Twas the Being who bade you steal softly up
| stairs,
And made you His agent to answer their pray ers.