| Show axxie ANNIE AND brayer PRATER PH AYElt the eve wore night bad fiad been said baid and ae annie end and wilile willie had crept into bed there were tears on their pillows and tears in their eyes and and each little bosom was heavy with sighs for tonight to night thair their serri efern lathers command had been given that they arnould anould retire precisely n at seven beven instead of at eight for they troubled him more with questions unheard of 0 than ever before be he had told them he ae thought riis rits celust gna a sin no to such being as santa class ever had been and he lie hoped arter after this he should never more moro hear how he lie scrambled down I 1 chimneys with pres pros enta each year and tb thia this was the teason reason that two littlebeads littie little heads so tso restlessly tossed on their sort soft downy beds bight nine abid and the clock on the steeple tolled um not a word had ben spoken by either till then theng when willies sad cad race faco prom from rom the blanket did P e and w whispered 1 espered dear annie in yon you fast aseep 44 why no brother I 1 A sweet ive tried jim it in vain bue bui but I 1 cant shut my eyes for somehow it makes me no ro sorry because dear papa has said there Is no santa claus clans mow now sow now we knew khew there Is and it cant be denied for became every 1 ear before mamma died but then an ive been thinking that she used to pray and god would bear everything every thing mamma would say buy and perhaps she the asked him to send santa claus clans here with the sacks tuli full of presents he brought every year at t weil weir n welte weite well W 1 7 tant we pay dest eest as mamma did then abou and ask him lobend to send him with presents acen aden ive been thinking to too and aud ad without a word w ord mor more 0 four uttie utile bare feet bounded out anthe on the floor and four little knees the soft boft campst pressed and two tiny hands were clasped close to each breast now W tille alite yon you know kaow we must most firmly believe that the presents we ask for were sure t to 0 re reselee selve elve you must walta wait just ast as still till I 1 say the amen auddy that you will know that your turn has das come therrill then ther till lisl dear deir jesus look down don oil on my brother and me and grant us the favor we are asking of thee I 1 want a wax dolly a tea set and ana ring and an ebony work workbox bok box that shuw shaw with a spring B R ess ass papa lear dear jesus and cause him to see that banta BAUM clans claus cla cia loves ua us far better letter than he be dont dan t let him get fretful and angry again at dear brother wiilie willie and annie ament 0 please desus yet let et santa taus turn down to night v and bri bring ag us so some bome m a presents be before fore it Is tight ight I 1 want he should dive me a mee nice little sed bed with bright shiny runners run nun nersi and all painted A box aft full tail of daniy a book and a toy amen and then deang deans ill 1111 be a dood boy s their prayers being ended anaed tue the tuey they v raised up their heads aud and and with hearts light and cheerful again bought sought their beds they were soon soan lost in slumber both peaceful I 1 and deep azid acid ana with fairies in dreamland W were ere roaming in sleep sight t nine and the little french clock dock had hid baruck ten tea erg sra the zhe father had thought of his children again he seems now to hear annies A halt half suppressed I 1 elsh elgh and to see the big tears stand in willies blue eyes eybs 1 I 1 was harah with my darlings he mentally eald bald id and should should not hav have sent them thern BO 00 early elly to b bed ed sat then I 1 was troubled edmy my feelings found por eor b anu bank vent erit v stock today to day has gone hown down aown ten len per ier ign cent M nat sat alor alof of coarse course forgotten their troubles keretha ere this n abad and that I 1 donled denied them the thirlee thurloe rakia asked for wlm VIST ent eng lust to make sure ill UW steal a up to their door 1 fort naver never s to my ay arlinge darlings before so saying baying be he softly ascended the stairs I 1 and arrived at the door doon 0 ohear o heau hear both their prayers r his annies bless papa paip W d draws onh thebie tho the big tears and willies W iines lines graye grave promise falls sweet 0 on a his ears earb i strange strange id r forgotten il sald bald he with a 1101 ro how w I 1 loused longed when a child chud mohave to have christmas draw nin ni niga nia a ill atene atone for tob nay bay harshness he inwardly said by bi answering answering ded bed their thein prayers ere ore I 1 sleep steep in my then he turned to the stairs aaa sak and softly went down threw off velvet slippers and silk bilk dressing eown gown donned hat coat and boots and was out oat in the A mira mire alra street facing the cold driving sleet norato nor noc stopped ed he until he had bad bought everything every thing tv from the box full of candy to the abe tiny gold ring tude lude indeed he jae kept adding so much to bis bli store T that ha the presents presenta outnumbered a score feore then homeward he turned wk with th his holiday load and with aunt marys marks aid in the nursery stowed miss dolly douy was seated beneath a pine tree by the side of a table spread out for her liar tea A workbox work box welt well filled in the centre contra was laid and on it a ring for which annie had prayed A soldier in uniform stood by a sled with brij brif bright ht slit shining ning runners and all painted igl ial yeu there were balls dogs and horses books pleasing ing to see and birj bir ls a of W all eli I 1 colors were perched in the true tree trie while santa claus stood up in the As if eefting getting top r eady ready more presents to drop and as the fond loud father be the picture surveyed he though thought tl for his trouble he had amply been paid and he no ad baid said to himself as he brushed off a tear s grin im rin happier to night than ive been for wy a year ear ive elj enjoyed oyed more true pleasure than ever be sore lore feol what care I 1 if it bank stock falls ten per cent more hereafter ill make it a rule I 1 believe bellev to have santa claus visit us as each eve Is so at aln 0 dhe gently extinguished the iia and ad tripped lown iown the stairs to retire for tor the night i As soon as the beams of the bright morning sun put pat the darkness dark nesy nesi to flight and the stars one by tone fo four ur little blue eyes eye oat out of sleep opened wide and at the same moment the present espied then out of their beds they ther sprang magr with ii a bound and the very guta gifts prayed for were all nil of them found they laughed and they cried in their innocent glee and ana shouted for papal papa to come quick luick and ana an EX see what presents old Santa clans claus brought in the night justine justice just Justi he the things that they wanted and ana be va fore light and boyr now in a voice vote 0 bon son and low theres theras a ban san santa banta ta claus clans papa 1 1 I 1 know I 1 1 1 while dear littie little climbed up upon ori orl his knee bear DeAr determined mined no secret between them thein should be and ana told in soft whispers ho how annie had bal sat said sald that their dear blessed mamma eo so long ag 0 dead used to kneel down and pray by the side of her chair V and that god up in heaven had answered her praye ir I trien then we dot up and aua dust as well as ns we answered our pay ray payers ersi now he daod 1 I should say may that he was if he sent you all these and knew just what presents my children would please well veil well let him think BO so the dear little elf atwould be cruel to tell him I 1 i did it myself blind father I 1 who caused your stern heart to rient relent f T and the hasty word spoken so soon tore toro to repent pent the being who bade you steal bof bot softly aly upstairs and made you his agent nent to answer their prayers cincinnati times miss mrss SOPHIA P ENOW enn |
