The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-12-25


: Why, we are forgetting our tree - she
: cried: 1--WE are really losing sight OF
our tree, uncle dear. Did any body
: ever
And. not waiting for "any body 10
reply, Daisy started up. and, assisted by
} Uncle John. bore the magical cedar In lis
neat box, covered with evergreens, To the
: center of the table.
Night had come now, and the tapers
on the tree were liz. As the fairy specta-
Gle OF many-colored baskets, candy cornu-
copas, and presents of needle-work, and
, books, and garlands, flashed forth i'm the
light of the tapers-as this splendid Christ
mas-tree burst forth on the eyes of all-the
young Darlings uttered a suppressed cheer,
and Pet" in curls and pinaiorc, made
a reckless and desperate attempt TO climb
upon the board and carry the prize at the
point OF his baby-spoon.
" No, 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 mother 2
IL is lovely.'
The rush of laughter in the voice made
all look at Daisy. Why did the child's
cheeks flush so, and why that dazzling
light in her eyes?
But now Uncle John suddenly riveted
every body's attention. For the moment
he was tine 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 table-and then be-
gan:
:" The tale am going to relate. NY dear
\ young friends" said Uncle John. " must
\ first 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 Camaralzaman. having been
shipwrecked on desert island where the
bird came TO feed, killed the roe, and the
story has been in the palace of Bagdad,
where the prince lived, ever since"
At this commencement. the young Oar
lings exhibitedan astounded interest. As
TO Pet, his excitement was beyond the
power OF words. His eyes resembled two
saucers-his mouth opened to its 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 |
al Uncle John, or furtivtly toward her .
father.
Uncle John continued
Having told you. my dear children,
how the story came TO be known, | will \
next proceed TO relate il for your enter
tainment:
"There once lived in the city OF Bagdad
an old mel chant whose name was Barilzac,
which, being translated, is Worthy.man.
He had clerk named Abou-ben- darling
not unlike the name of our own family
and for a long time Notwithstanding
served the good merchant Barilzac, whose
caravans brought 10 Bagdad all the trea-
sures OF the East. But misfortune came
The caravans wee overwhelmed in the
sands of the desert. The moment was
near when Barilzac would probably be
compelled 70 strew dust upon his head.
and wander through the streets of Bagdad. ,
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-tlarling ,
came home that day, thinking of the mis- ,
fortunes of us patron. and also of a great .
suffering OF mis- own-for all of us must
suffer. my children. His only son had
been lost at sea, and the heart of Abou.
was sad. He returned to hold
the festivity of the cedar-tree. but his
heart felt heavy. Notwithstanding is
he said, there is no man I
more miserable 1
= As he thus spoke. his daughter Pari- {
banou approached him. The name Pal
banou, my children, signifies the Flower {
Of the Daisy. She came now TO Abou-
ben-darling. and, kissing him i'm the East
ern manner. said: % father dear, o
u-ben-darliBg do not despair! Be- !
hold. the feast is set, ard the holy cedar |
tree blazes; the tapers therein shine like :
stars. and many gifts hang down from the :
boughs of the wondrous tree -
Here Pet suddenly burst forth" Why. !
i like Our tree.h he cried; only he left
out the ? i'm tree 1
"Silence. Pet do not interrupt" said c
Uncle John. Il continue: Abou-ben- {
darling sighed when his daughter thus a
spoke. G
'''Truly. Flower of the Daisy he said :
thy cedar-tree shines /: but my heart is I
lark. and there is no gift thereon for me-. {
80 There is a gift for our father said Q
Paribanou, or Flower of the Daisy and, ]
" she spoke, there was a curious. hidden I
aughter i'm her voice. There is a gift b
hat our father will value more than all Z
,lse--a package with his name on il, from :
distant land.'- a
They did not look at Daisy. who was :
and whose hand scarce posses- q
ed strength TO draw letter from her o
BOSOM. II
Uncle John continued: Il
And Misunderstanding said Where =
: this package. my child.' to which the n
flower of the Daisy replied I,
- Father dear, il is here, See. take it a
rom the boughs of the holy cedar-tree, |,
md give il to your Il
As Uncle John uttered the words, Daisy q
prang forward with letter in her hand d
Here IL Is, father dear !" she cried, l.
'ursting into tears and laughter. cit n
early killed me not TO tell you. Oh. take al
!, take il. Our Edmund IS not dead!'' fl
And. throwing her arms around old
oe's neck. she sobhcd upon his bosom.
While. with eyes full of wonder he read