Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-12-25

sno cried 1--WE are really losing sight
OF our tree, uncle dear. Did anybody
ever" ,.:a -, r.3
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 eyergreens,
to the center Of the table: +
Night had now come, and the tapers
on the tree were lit, As the fairy
spectacla of many colored b6sKets, can.
dy cornucopias, and the presents of
needle-work, and books, and garlauds
flashed forth in the light of the tepess,.
the young Darlings uttered q suppress
ed oheer; and :" PEI, lin carlsbad pin.
afore, made a desperate attempt to
climb upon the board and carry the
prize at the point Of his baby spoon. .
No, Pet" cried Daisy, wait till
sister gives you yours But first, Uncle
John is going to tell beautiful story !
Viii you listen, rather dear, and moth:
er II is lovely ~: s.b a.; .r.
The laughter in the voice made sll
look at Daisy. Why did the chila's
9 checks aush so,s and Why that dazzling
light in her eyes -, =
But now Uncle John riveted every.
body's attention. For the moment he
was tho center interest, for
the whole Darling family. He seemed
to feel the responsibility resting upon
him. He reflected for m0ment-
smiled dreamily ! thrummed ON the ta-
ble-then began: =
The tale I am going to relate, my
dear young friends, said Uncle John.
II must; inform You, IL strictly true in
every particular. It was written down
by the King of: the Genii, and then
caught up in the beak of . great bird
called = roc and the Rxince Oamaralz.
aman, having been shipwrecked on a
desert island where, the bird came to
feed, killed the, roc, and the story has
beer in the palace Of 'Bagdad, where
the prince lived ever since ns"S' q
- At his commencement, the young
DaElngs exhibited IN astounding in.
terest As to Pet. his excitement was
beyond the power of words,,, His eyes
resembled two saucers-1is mouth
opened to its utmost width-and, in
the excess of his attention, he very
nearl swallowed his baby spoon. No
one looked at Daisy. With one hand
shading her eyes from the light, and
the other placed upon her, breast, she
looked at Uncle John, or furtlvely to-
ward her father. 's'' 80 FL
! 5asUncle John continued: i ::s:~ 81.
=" Having told You, my dear chill
dren. how the story came to be- e~knovn,
Twill next proceed to relate it for your
entertainment .;. es.
There once lived n the City of
Bagdad IN old merchant whose name
was Barilzac, which, being translated
is Worthy man. He had o. clerk named
Abou-ben.darling- mot unlike the nam
of our own family-and for . long tim
Abou-ben-dsrling served the : good
merchant Barilzac,. whose caravans
brought to Bagdad all the treasures oi
the East. But misfortune came. The
caravans were overwhelmed I'M The
sands Of the desert. The moment VA
near when Baril8ac would probably b<
compelled to strew dust upon h,s head
and wander through tho streets Of Bag.
dad, crying, sBarilzac, the merchant,
is ruined: T. ':.'' = ~ 80 49,
"This happened" continued Uncle
John, Just before, the great festivity
which comes on the twenty-f fifth day OF
the month of SpowA. .Abou-ben- -dar-
ling came home that day, thinking OF
the misfortunes Of his patron, and also
of the great suffering Of hls own-fo1
|4all4 Of us must suffer, my children.
His only son had been lost atsea, and
the heart of Notwithstanding WAS cad.
He returned. to hold the, festivity oi
the cedar-tree, but his heart felt heavy.
Misunderstanding is mi;sersble!s', he
ses5i., se;S, There ''' is no sm'n moro mis-:
"As he thus spoke, his dsughte,
Paribanouapproaohed him The name
Of Paribanou, my children, signifies
the, Flower Of. the, Daisy. She .'eame
now to Abou-ben-daIling, and kissing
him in the Eastern fashion, said:, 20
father dear! o Abou- ben -darling! do
not despairl Behold, the feast is set,
and the holy oedar-tree blases; the
tapars therein shine: like .stars,1 i and
many gifts hand down from the boughs
Of the .Wondrous tree! !':' ~.,..., -,
Hero Pet suddenly, burst forth
"Why, it's like our treel'' he cried F.;
only he left out the in "tree." !
:t<Silence, Pet! do not interrupt 3
said Uncle John. 81 continue Abou.
ben n-darling sighed when his darling
":fruly, Flower, q Of til, Daisy h>
raid, thy cedar tree shines but my
heart is dstk, and there is nj; gift the1s
for me- -',r-- 49,: :; $3.50 80
ssThere Is q. gift. for our father,
said ParibanOu. or, j. Flower of thl
Daisy and, - she spoke, there WAS 1
curious hidden laughter in her voice
There is q gift that our father vii
value more than an elseAa 'packag,
with = his name on; il from 4 diStan
lhnd.'," 49,: *fH i 80; ,'~'i,<>::s.
They did not:look ct Daisy, who va
!. trembling, and whose hand scarce pos
sessed strength to draw . letter from
her bosom.
Uncle John continued 80 q ;:'''' 9,
al" And IL Abon. ben -darling- said
EtWhere ID thisipackage, my child4s" &
which the Flower Of the iDa,g replied,
"Father dear, it is here! Seee ! tax
it from the boughs Of the holy cedar
tree, and give it TO you!
As Uncle John uttered the words
Daisy sprang forward with tho letter il
! her liand. i. f-- y4ss....4
"Here it il, father dear !" abe cried
bursting into tears and laughter. 8.
nearly killed me not to tell you! Oh
take it, take It! Our Edmund is no
dead !" - - '1:'7 17 >,
And, throwing her arms around oil
Joe's neck; she sobbed upon his bosom
while,x With eyes full l,oft wonder, :herea'
the letter from his son. Al, he read or
he seemed to doubt swheth or: he VI
reading real letter. His eyes cleeed
he uttered q sigh, and would hav
tainted, had not Uncle John 'caugh
him in his arms. ,':.~1s: 80
The letter was. written to Daisy ID,
her brother Edmund He had bee
picked up in tbs Pacific and carried t
the South Seas by a trading vessel
thence he had worked his way to Cali
, fornia, Encountered Charles Worthlne
ton roaming about in the gold reei IN
they had speculated: there and mad
great fortunes, and were coming HON
on the next steamer. That Was the le
) ter. e.
\ As Joe grew faint, Pet suddenly ra
: behind his mothers apron, uttering q
3 appalling scream.
4 At the door stood n tall young ma
: with . ferocious beard.
. and Daisy ~ g, < -, -
. y !They.ran into his yarps, utteringcri'
and sobs. The. sailor VAS home agai
q never to leave them more; and, 6
Daisy rested in her dear brother