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

Why, we are forgetting our tree !"
The cried eve are really losing sight
II our tree, uncle dear. Did anybody

"Why, we are forgetting our tree -
she cried eve are really losing sight
OF our tree, uncle dear. Did anybody
ever-2"
And, not waiting for anybody" ia
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 oil
needle work, and books, and garlaudf
flashed forth in the light of the tapers,
the young Darlings uttered q suppress.
ed cheer, and Pet" in curls and pin
afore, made a desperate attempt tc
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
Will you listen, father dear, and moth
er It is lovely !" ..
The laughter in the voice made all
look at Daisy. Why, did the chila's
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 fol
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,
4 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 q great bird
called q roc-and the Prince Camaralz.
aman, having been shipwrecked on a
desert island where the bird came ia
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:
6 Having told you, my dear chill
dren, how the story came to be known,
I 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
Observation-Disclosures unlike the nam
of our own family-andf for q long tim
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
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, "iust 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 Notwithstanding was sad.
He returned to hold the feativity of
the cedar-tree, but his heart felt heavy.
Accommodating is miserable!' he
said, There is no man more mis-
erable!'
Gas he thus spoke, his daughter
approached him. The name
of Paribanou, my children, signifies
the Flower of the Daisy. She came
now to Misunderstanding, and kissing
him in the Eastern fashion, said: %
father dear! O Mountaineering! do
not despair! Behold, the feast is set,
and the holy eedar-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 our tree!" he cried :;
only he left out the r in STREE"
ssSilence, Pet! do not interrupt -
said Uncle John. II continue: Abou-
sighed when his darling
thus spoke.
"sfruly, Flower of the Daisy he
said, thy cedar tree shines: but my
heart is dark, and there is no gift there
for me-
"tThere Is q gift for our father,
said Paribanou, or Flower of the
Daisy; and, as she spoke, there was q
curious hidden laughter in her voice.
sThere 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 wa.
trembling, and whose hand scarce pos
sessed strength to draw a letter from
her bosom.
Uncle John continued: =,
"And Abon-be darling said
Where is this package, my childa'" t.
which the Flower of the Daisy replied
stFather dear, it is here! See, I 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 il
her hand.
'Here it is, father dear she cried
bursting into tears and laughter. Z" L
nearly killed me not to tell you! Oh
take it, take it Our Edmund is no
dead!"
And, throwing her arms around OLE
Joe's neck, she sobbe.1 upon his bosom
while, with eyes full of wonder, he reat
the letter from his son. As he read on
he seemed to doubt Whether he Wa
reading a real letter. His eyes closed
he uttered 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 beef
picked up in the Pacific and carried t.
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 regl NJ
they had speculated there and mad
great fortunes, and were coming hom'
on the next steamer. That was the let
ter.
As Joe grew faint, Pet suddenly raj
behind his mothers apron, tutoring al
appalling scream.
At the door stood q tall young MAJ
with ferocious beard.
"How are you, father and mother
and Daisy 7"
They ran into his arms, uttering erie
and sobs. The sailor was home again
never to leave them more; and, u
Daisy rested in her dear brother
arms, with her rosy cheek upon hi
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