The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-12-21
our tree, uncle dear. Did anybody


And, not waiting for anybody" to
reply, Daisy started up, and assisted by
Uncle John bore the magical cedar in
It's neat box, covered with erergreens, to
the centre of the table.
Night had come now, and the tapers
on the tree were lit. As the fairy spec
tacles of many colored baskets, candy
cornucoplas and presents of needle-work,
and books, and garlands flashed forth in
the Ilght OF the tapers-as this splendid
Christmas tree burst forth on the eyes of
all-the young Darlings uttered a sup
pressed cheer and pet" in curls and a
pinafore, made 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
sister gives you yours. But first, Uncle
John is going to tell beautiful story.
Will you listen, father dear and mother
1t 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
everybody's attention. For the moment
he was the center of excellent 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
bic, and then began
The tale L ana going to relate, my
dear young friends" said Uncle John,
| 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 the roc-and the Prince CANA
ralzaman, having been shipwrecked on
desert island where the bird came to
be fed killed the roc, and the story has
been in the palace of Bagdad, where the
! prince lived ever since"
At this commencement the Darlings
exhibited an astounded interest As to
Pet, his excitement was beyond the pow
er of words. His eyes resembled two
saucers--his mouth opened to its utmost
width--and, IN the excess of his atten-
ton, 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 fur.
lively toward her father.
Uncle John continued:
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 Bag
dad an old merchant whose name was
Barilzac, which being translated, is Wor.
thy-man. He had a clerk named AbOu-
ben-darling-not unlike the name of our
own family-and for long time Abou-
ben-darling 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 be compelled t. strew
dust upon Iii head and wander through
.he streets OF Dagdad, crying. "Baril-
zaz, the merchant, Is ruinedW
This happened" continued Uncle
John, "just before the great festivity
which comes on the twenty-ifth day OF
the month of snow. Abou- ben-darling
came home that day, thinking of the
misfortunes of his patron, and also of a
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
bou-ben-darling was sad. He returned
to hold the festivity of the cedar tree,
but his heart heavy. "Abou-ben-dar-
ling is miserableY' he said, there is nc
man more miserableW
A. h. |, J -,
ParibOnou approached him. The name
| Parib0nou, my children, signifies the
Flower of the Daisy. She came now tc
Abou- ben-darling, and kissing him in
| the eastern manner, said: ooh father
dear. On Abou-ban-darling! do not
| despairl Behold the feast is set and the
holy cedar-tree blazes; the tapers therein
shine like stars, and many gifts hang
down from the boughs of the wondrous
tree. "a
Here Fet suddenly burst forth
why, it's like our tree~ he cried
only he left out the in Stree"
Silence, Pet do not interrupt
said Uncle John. " [ continue: Abou
ben-darling sighed when his daughter
thus spoke:
Truly, flower of the Daisy" he said
the cedar tree shines; but my heart il
dark, and there is no gift thereon for me. ,
"There is gift for our father" saiC
Paribanou, or flower of the Daisy; and
| as she spoke, there was a curious, bidder
laughter in her voice. "There is a gift
that our father will value more than all
elsa package with his name on it, from
a distant land"
They did not look at Daisy, who was
trembling, and whose hand scarcely pos
sessed strength TO draw letter from hel
| bosom.
Uncle John continued:
And Misunderstanding said; "My
child where is this packageT to which
the flower of the Daisy replied:
Father dear, it is here! See, take
it from the boughs of the holy cedar
tree, and give it to you'll"
As Uncle John uttered these words
Daisy sprang forward with letter il
her hand.
Here it is, father dear." she cried
/ bursting into tears and laughter 81
| nearly killed me not to tell you! On
take it, take it! Our Edmund is no
deadl
/ And throwing her arms around Ole
Joe's neck, she sobbed upon his bosom
1 while, with tears full of wonder, he reaC
the letter from his son. As he read on
/ he seemed to doubt whether be was read
ing real letter. His eyes closed; h
uttered a sigh, and would have tainted
had not Uncle John caught him in hi
/ arms.
The letter was written to Daisy by he
brother Edmund. He had been picked
up in the Pacific and carried to The