River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-12-23

It's a cravat, Or"
"No, indeed, I've done nothing Of
the sort---that is not your present.
The rush of joyous laughter in the
girls voice nearly drowned her words.
She seemed bursting to reveal some
secret. Their talk was interrupted,
however, by the appearance of Mother
Darling and her flock, with old Uncle
John, looking wise and secretive.
Daisy had procured, somewhere, the
handsomest Christmas-tree imaginable
"a bushy cedar, full of light blue.ber-
ries, and having returned from church,
whittier she went dutifully with the
rest, she proceeded, with the aid of
Uncle John, her prime friend and ia
vorite, to deck the wondrous tree with
its brilliant ornaments. As evening
drew on it was finished, and erected on
the sideboard--its paper baskets, aud
presents, and tapere making ii
magical spectacle TO the young Oar
lings, who gazed at it with open-eyed
wonder.
Then the Christmas dinner appeared,
and riveted all eyes. The great roast
turkey, and round OF beef, and thanking
side.dlshes, aroused wild enthusiasm
in the young ones. Old Joe devoutly
said grace, and the youthful members
of the Darling family, chipping like a
flock of blrds, called each others at
tention TO the splendid banquet.
All sat down. Old Joe looked round.
There's one seat too many" he
said.
s | set i there, brother, said Uncle
John, traNquilly.
For whom, brother Rave you
invited some friend 2"
mo brother, thought Of our Ed
mund."
The old book-keeper looked wistfully
at his brother, and then went and held
out his hand to him.
Thank you, brother" he said in a
low voice, returning to his seat.
When the first pang had passed, it
seemed a satisfaction to old Joe to
gaze at the vacant chair, and TO think
OF his son being present and enjoying
their happiness. And when at last the
dessert came and the wine was poured
out, the old man looked towards the
vacant chair as he raised the glass to
his lips.
Suddenly the voice of Daisy rang
out, half choked with laughter:
Why, we are forgetting our tree :"
she cried owe are really losing sight
of our tree, uncle dear. Did anybody
ever-9n
And, not waiting for anybody" to
reply, Daisy started up, and, assisted
by Uncle John, bore the magical cedar
in its neat box covered with evergreens,
to the center of the table
Night had now come, and the tapers
on the tree were lit. As the fairy
spectacle of many colored baskets, can.
dy cOrnucopias, and the presents of
needle-work and books, and garlauds
flashed forth in the light of the tapers,
the young Darlings uttered suppress
ed cheer, and " Pet, +" in curls aud pm.
aiore, made a desperate attempt to
climb upon the board and carry the
prize at the point of his baby spoou.
g No, Pet cried Daisy, wait till
sister gives you yours But first, Uncle
/ John il going to tell beautiful story
/ VIII yon listen, father dear, and moth.
er It's lovely !"
The laughter in the voice made all
look at Daisy. Why dld the chlld's
cheeks flush and why that dazzling
light in her as
But now [ 1cle John riveted every.
body's attention. For the moment he
was the center of excited interest for
the whole Darling family. He seemed
to feel ne responsibility resting upon
him. He reflected for u moment
smiled dreamily thrummed on the ia
ble-then began:
The tale | am going to relate, my
dear young friends, said Uncle John,
must inform you, Is strictly true in
every particular. 1t was written down
by the King 81 the Genii, and then
caught up in the beak OF great bird
called a roc--and the Prince Camaralz-
aman, having been shipwrecked on a
desert island where the bird came to
feed, killed the roc, and the story has
been IN the palace of Bagdad, where
the prince lived ever since"
At his commencement, the young
Darlings exhibited an astounding in.
terest AS TO Pet, his excitement was
beyond the power OF words. His eyes
resembled two saucers-his mouth
opened 10 its utmost vidth--and, in
the excess of his attention, he very
nearly swallowed his baby-spoon. No
one looked at Daisy. With one hand
ahading her eyes from the light, and
the other placed upon her breast, she
looked at Uncle John, or furtvely to-
ward her father.
Uncle John continued
Having told you, my dear chill
dren, now the story came TO be known,
! will next proceed 10 relate it for your
entertainment
There once lived in the City of
1 Bagdad an Old merchant whose name
was Barllzac, which, being translated
is Worthy man. He had a clerk named
Abou- ben.darling-not unlike thename
of our own iamily-and for long time
Misunderstanding served the good
merchant Barilzac, whose caravans
brought to Bagdad all the treasures of
the East. But misfortune came. The
caravans were overwhelmed in the
sands Of the desert. The moment was
ncar when Borilzac would probably be