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

"Why, we are forgetting our tree ~
she cried eve are really losing sight
Of our tree, uncle dear. Did anybody
ever-?"
And, not waiting for "anybody" to
reply, Daisy started mp, AMI, assisted
Ivy Uncle John, bore the magical cedar
in its neat box covered with evergrcens,
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 Z" Pet" in curls and PIN
afore, made desperate attempt to
climb upon the board and carry the
prizo 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
Will you listen, father dear, and moth
er ? It is lovely -
The laughter in the voice made all
look at Daisy. Why did the child IS
cheeks flush so, and why that dazzling
light in her eyes
But now Uncle 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 the responsibility resting upon
him. He reflected for moment
smiled dreamily thrummed on the ia
ble-then began:
'The tale I am going to relate, my
dear young friends, said Uncle John,
II must inform. you, is strictly true in
every particular. It was written down
by the King of the Genii, and then
caught up in the beak of a great bird
called 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 to it's utmost width-and, in
the excess of his attention, he very
nearly 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.
Uncle John continued:
Having told you, my dear chill
dren, how the story came to be known,
will next proceed to relate it for your
entertainment
"There once lived in the City of
Bagdad an old merchant whose name
was Barilzac, which, being translated
is Worthy man. He had clerk named
Abou-ben. darling-not unlike the nam
Of our own family-and for long tim
Abou-ben- darling served the good
merchant Barilzac, whose caravans
brought to Bagdad all the treasures of
the East. But misfortune came. The
caravans we're overwhelmed in the
sands of the desert. The moment was
near when Barilzac would probably be
compelled to strew dust upon his head
and wander through the streets of Bag
dad, crying, Barilzac, the merchant,
is ruined. =
"This happened" continued Uncle
John, "just before the great festivity
which comes on the twenty-fifth day Of
the month of Shows. Abou-ben-dar-
ling came home that day, thinking of
the misfortunes of his patron, and also
of the great suffering of his own-for
all of US must suffer, my children.
His only son had been lost at sea, and
the heart of Accommodating was sad.
He returned to hold tue festivity of
the cedar-tree, but his heart felt heavy.
Misunderstanding is miselable!' he
said, There is no man more mis-
erable!'
Gas be thus spoke, his daughter
Paribanou approached him. The name
of Paribanou, my children, signifies
the Flower of the Daisy. She came
now to Abou ben darling, and kissing
him in the Eastern fashion, said: %
father dear! 0 Notwithstanding! do
not despair! Behold, the feast is set,
and the holy aedar-tree blazes; the
tapers therein shine like stars, and
many gifts hand down from the boughs
of the wondrous tree!''
Here Pet suddenly burst forth
"Why, it's like ON" tree!" he cried ;
only he left out the r in stree"
tsSilence, Pet! do not interrupt !"
said Uncle John. II continue Abou-
benz darling sighed when his darling
thus spoke.
"'Truly, Flower of the Daisy he
said. sthy cedar tree shines: but my
heart is dark, and there IS no gift there
for me-
"sThere Is a gift for our father,
said Paribanou, or Flower OF the
Daisy; and, as she spoke, there was a
curious hidden laughter in her voice.
There is a gift that our father will
value more than all elsa package
with his name on it from distant
land.'"
They did not look at Daisy, who was
trembling, and whose hand scarce pos.
sessed strength to draw letter from
her bosom.
Uncle John continued:
"And Abon-ben darling said
where is this package, my child =" t.
which the Flower of the Daisy replied
"Father dear, it is herel See, ! take
it from the boughs of the holy cedar
tree, and give it to you!
As Uncle John uttered the words
Daisy sprang forward with the letter II
her hand.
Here it is, father dear " she cried
bursting into tears and laughter. g II
nearly killed me not to tell you! On
take it, take it : Our Edmund is not
And, throwing her arms around ole
Joe's neck, she sobbel upon his bosom
while, with eyes full of wonder, he real
the letter from his son. As he read on
he seemed to doubt Whether he Wal
reading real letter. His eyes closed
he uttered a sigh, and would hav'
tainted, had not Uncle John caugh
him in his arms.
/ The letter was written to Daisy by
her brother Edmund. He had beer
picked up in the Pacific and carried te
the South Seas by a trading vessel
thence he had worked his way to Cali
fornia, encountered Charles Worthlng
ton roaming about in the gold regi vi:
they had speculated there and made
great fortunes, and were coming home
on the next steamer. That was the let
ter.
As Joe grew faint, Pet suddenly RI,
behind his mothers apron, uttering al
appalling scream.
At the door stood " tall young maj
with Il ferocious beard.
elbow are you, father and mother
md Daisy Z"
They ran into his arms, uttering erie
and sobs. The sailor was home again
never to leave them more; and, IL
Daisy rested in her dear brother
arms, with her rosy cheek upon hi
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