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ANNIE AND WILLIE'S PRAYER.

395

they leave, there cannot but be pleasure, participating as it does in the nature of its object. It is, as it were, the interpenetration of a diviner nature through our own; but its footsteps are like those of a wind over the sea, which the morning calm erases, and whose traces remain only, as on the wrinkled sand which paves it. These and corresponding conditions of being are experienced principally by those of the most delicate sensibility and the most enlarged imagination; and the state of mind produced by them is at war with every base desire. The enthusiasm of virtue, love, patriotism, and friendship, is essentially linked with such emotions; and whilst they last, self appears as what it is, an atom to a universe. Poets are not only subject to these experiences as spirits of the most refined organization, but they can colour all that they combine with the evanescent hues of this ethereal world; a word, a trait in the representation of a scene or passion, will touch the enchanted chord, and reanimate, in those who have ever experienced those emotions, the sleeping, the cold, the buried image of the past. Poetry thus makes immortal all that is best and most beautiful in the world; it arrests the vanishing apparitions which haunt the interlunations of life, and veiling them, or in language or in form, sends them forth among mankind, bearing sweet news of kindred joy to those with whom their sisters abide-abide, because there is no portal of expression from the caverns of the spirit which they inhabit into the universe of things. Poetry redeems from decay the visitations of the divinity in man.

ANNIE AND WILLIE'S PRAYER.

T

SOPHIA P. SNOW.

WAS the eve before Christmas, "Good-
night" had been said;

He had told them he thought this delusion a sin,

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And Annie and Willie had crept No such creature as "Santa Claus " ever had

There were tears on their pillows, And he hoped, after this, he should never

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396

ANNIE AND WILLIE'S PRAYER.

Not a word had been spoken by either till then,

When Willie's sad face from the blanket did peep,

As he whispered, "Dear Annie, is 'ou fast aseep?"

"Why no, brother Willie," a sweet voice replies,

"I've long tried in vain, but I can't shut my eyes,

For somehow it makes me so sorry because Dear papa has said there is 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

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I want a wax dolly, a tea-set and ring, And an ebony work-box, that shuts with a spring.

Bless рара, dear Jesus, and cause him to see, That Santa Claus loves us as much as does he: Don't let him get fretful and angry again At dear brother Willie and Annie. Amen." "Please, Desus, et Santa Taus tum down tonight,

And bing us some presents before it is ight; I want he should div' me a nice 'ittle sed, With bright shinin' unners, and all painted red;

A box full of tandy, a book and a toy,

"Well, why tan't we pray dest as Mamma Amen, and then Desus, I'll be a dood boy."

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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, both peaceful and deep,

And with fairies in Dreamland were roaming

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in 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 half suppressed

sighs,

And to see the big tears stand in Willie's blue eyes.

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"I was harsh with my darlings," he mentally said,

And should not have sent them so early to bed;

But then I was troubled; my feelings found vent,

For bank stock to-day has gone down ten

per cent.

But of course they've forgotten their troubles ere this.

ANNIE AND WILLIE'S PRAYER.

397

And that I denied them their thrice-asked-for And birds of all colors were perched in the

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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 paid;

And he said to himself, as he brushed off a tear,

"I'm happier to-night than I've been for a year;

'Strange-strange-I'd forgotten," said he, I've enjoyed more true pleasure than ever

with a sigh,

How I longed when a child to have Christmas draw nigh.

before,

What care I if bank stock falls ten per cent. more !

I'll atone for my harshness," he inwardly Hereafter, I'll make it a rule, I believe,

said;

"By answering their prayers ere I sleep in my bed."

To have Santa Claus visit us each Christmas eve."

So thinking, he gently extinguished the light, Then turned to the stairs and softly went And, tripping down stairs, retired for the down,

night.

Threw off velvet slippers and silk dressing- As soon as the beams of the bright morning

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398

BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT.

And told in soft whispers how Annie had said

And knew just what presents my children would please.

That their dear blessed mamma, so long ago (Well, well let him think so, the dear little dead, elf, Used to kneel down and pray by the side of 'Twould be cruel to tell him I did it myher chair, self!"

And that God up in heaven had answered Blind father! who caused your stern heart to

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T

CHARLES DICKENS.

HE news that the fugitive had been caught and brought back ran like wildfire through the hungry community, and expectation was on tiptoe all the morning. On tiptoe it remained until the afternoon, when Squeers, having refreshed himself with his dinner and an extra libation or so, made his appearance (accompanied by his amiable partner), with a fearful instrument of flagellation, strong, supple, wax-ended, and new.

"Is every boy here?"

Every boy was there, but every boy was afraid to speak; so Squeers glared along the lines to assure himself.

"Each boy keep his place. Nickleby! you go to your desk, sir!"

There was a curious expression in the usher's face; but he took his seat, without opening his lips in reply. Squeers left the room, and shortly afterwards returned, dragging Smike by the collar-or rather by that fragment of his jacket which was nearest the place where his collar ought to have been.

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