Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-12-31
friend"

each otner as they sported around the gables
and whistled aud rumbed in key.holes and
chimueys, wild with mirih at the coming
Of Christmas and old Joe Darlng's small
house, in a remote street of the great CITY.
seemed especially honored by the'hobqob-
lius, who shook the windows till they rat.
tied again.
A great fire was burning, and the break.
fast-table was set, and old Joe rubbed his
hands in front Of the blaze and looked out
Of the window when voice behind him
with rush Of laughter in il, and sounding
like a. silver bell, exclaimed
Christmas gift, father, dearl We caught
you !"
Old Joe turned round As he did so a
pair Of rosy lips pressed his cheek, and two
arms cuug round bis neck, belonging to
little fairy Of seventeen.
Why, you look like asunbeam, Daisy"
he said.
And indeed the face resembled ono, so
brilliant was the light of the eyes. Daisy
was small, with neat, cozy figure, iu
plain but pretty dress and you saw at
glance that this was one Of those nimble-
fingered fairies who arc the blessings Of the
[ homes IN which they rule
Her father smiled, and fondy passed bis
hand over her hair. As he gazed at her,
he thought of his well.nigh penniless con-
dition, and heaved sigh.
Poor little lady-bird have nothing
for you !" he said, signing again.
But Daisy did not seem to regard the
circumstance as at all depressing. On the
contrary her face glowed, and turning her
bright head toward one side she whispered:
I've gotta Chrisimas-gft for you, father
dear"
Have your Now, you've gone and
worked your little fingers to the bone. It's
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
bushy cedar, full of light blue berries
and, having returned from the church,
whittier she went dutifully with the rest,
she proceeded, with the aid of Uncle John,
her prime friend and favorte, to deck the
wondrous tree with its brilliant ornaments.
As evening drew on it was finished and
erected on the sideboard-its paper baskets,
and presents, and tapers, making it mag-
cal spectacle to the young Darlings, who
gazed at it with open-eyed wonder.
Then the Christmas dinner appeared, and
riyeted all eyes. The great roast turkey,
and round OF beef, and fanking side.dishes
aroused wild enthusiasm in the young ones
old Joe devoutly said grace-apd the
youthful members Of the Darling family,
chirping like flock of birds, called each
others attention to the splendid banquet.
All sat down. Old Joe looked round
There's one seat too many" he said
"I set it there, brother" said Uncle
John, TRANQUILITY.
For whom, brother? Have you invited
some friend ?"
"No, brother, thought of our Edmund"
The old book-keeper looked wistfuly at
his brother, and then went and held out his
hand to him.
Thank you, brother he said, in low
voice, returning to his seat.
When the frstpang had passed, it seemed
a satisfaction to old Joe to gaze at the va
cant chair, and to think of his son as pres
ent and enjoying their happiness. Aud
when at last the desert came, and the wine
was poured out, the old man looked toward
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 "we are really losing sight of our
tree, uncle dear. Did anybody ever -"
And, not waiting for any body" to re-
ply, Daisy started up, and, assisted by Un-
Gle John, bore the magical cedar in its neat
box, covered with evergreen, to the center
of the table
Night had come now, and the tapers on
the tree were lit. As the fairy spectacles
of many colored baskets, candy cornuco.
pias, and presents of needle-work, and
books, and garlands, flashed forth in the
light of the tapers-as this splendid Christ.
mas-tree burst forth on the eyes of all
the young Darlings uttered suppressed
cheer, and 4" Pet" in curls and pinafore
made a reckless and desperate attempt to
climb upon the board and carry the prize
at the point of his baby-spoon.
mo, Pet !" cried Daisy, ." wait till sis.
ter gives you yours But first, Uncle
John is going to tell beautiful story Will
you listen, father dear, and mother2 1t is
lovely !"
The rush of laughter in the voice made
all look at Daisy. Why did the childs
cheeks flush so, and why that dazzling light
in her eyesY
But now Uncle John suddenly 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.
lie reflected for moment-smiled dream
lily; thrummed on the tabe--and then be-
gan:
The tale am going to relate, my dear
young friends said Uncle John, I" must
FIRST inform you is strictly true in every
particular. 1t was written down by the
King of the Genii and then caught up in
the beak of great bird called a roc
and the Prince Camaralzaman, having been
shipwrecked on 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 this commencement the Darlings ex-
hibited an astounded interest. AS to Pet,
his excitement was beyond the power Of
words His eyes resembled two saucers--
his mouth opened to its utmost with-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 furtiyey toward her father.
Uncle John continued
q" Having told you, my dear children,
how the story came to be known, | will
next proceed to relate it for your enter
tainment
There once lived in the city of Bagdad
an old merchant whose name was Barilzac,
which, being translated, is Worthy-mau.
He had clerk named About en-darling--
not unlike the name of our own family