Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1878-12-26

dust upon his head ard wander through
he streets of Bagdad, crying, 'Barllzac,
the merchant isruined. "
This happened" continued Uncl'
John, ',just before the great festivitl
which comes on the 9Th day OF the montl
of Shows. Misunderstanding came homt
that day, thinking of the mislortuncs o.
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 al
sea, and the heart of Misunderstanding
was sad. He returned to hold the festival
of the cedar tree but his heart felt heavy.
Misunderstanding is miserable!' he said
there is no man more miserable!
AS he thus spoke, his darling Pari-
hanon approached him. The name Of
Paribanou, my children, signifies the
Flower Of the Daisy. She came now to
AbOu-ben.darling, and kissed him in the
Eastern fashion, said, oh! father dear!
Oh! Abou-ben-darling do not despair!
Behold the feast Is set, and the holy cedar
tree blazes; the tapers therein shine like
stars, and many gifts hang down from the
bmnchcS Of the wondrous tree!
Here Pet suddenly bust forth, "Why
it's like 0,D tree!" only he left our the =
in tree.
Silence, Pet! do not interrupt said
Uncle John. 81 cOntinuc Abou-bcn-
darling sighed when his darling thus
spoke:
"'Tmly, Flower of the Daisy, he said,
thy cedar tree shines: but my heart is
dark, and there is no gift there for me-.
"'Thcrc isa gift for rourfa father, said Pari-
banon or Flower of the Daisy; and. as
she spoke, there was curious laughter in
her voice. There is gift that our father
will value more than all elsa package
with his name on it from adistant land. "
They did not look at Daisy, who was
trembling, and whose hand scarce pos
seSscd strength to draw letter from her
bosom.
Uncle John continued:
And Misunderstanding said: Where
is this package, my child to which the
Flower Of The Daisy rcplied
Father, dear, it is here! 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 in her
hand.
Here it is, father dear?' she cried.
bursting into tears and laughter. at
nearly killed me not to tel! you! Oh,
take it, take it! Our Edmund is not
dead!"
And throwing her arms around old Joe's
neck, she sobbed upon his bosom, while
with eyes full of wonder he read the let
ter from his son. As he read on he seemed
to doubt whether he was reading a real
letter. His eyes closed; heuttered sigh,
and would have tainted had not Uncle
John caught him in his arms.
The letter was written to Daisy by her
brother Edmund. He had been picked up
in the Pacific and carried to the South
Seas by a trading vessel; thence he had
worked his way to California, encountered
Charles Worthington roaming about the
gold regionS-thcy had spcculated there
and made great fortunes, and were coming
home on the next steamer. That was the
letter.
As Joe grew faint, Pet suddenly ran
behind ms mothers apron, uttering an
scream.
At the door stood tall young man with |
a icrocious beard.
How dre you father and mother, and |
Daisy?"
They ran into his arms, uttcring cries
md Sobs. The sailor was home again,
never to leave them more; and as Daisy |
rested in her brothers arms with her rosy |
heck upon his breast, she said, laughing
md crying:
Father, dear how do you like your
Christmas gittT'
The windows shook as she spoke. 1t
vas, doubtless, the merry gobins, highly
,leascd with themselves and everybody
Use; and the holy night-the happy
blessed night-went on its way full of Joy
md gratitude.
A year aiterward strange to say,
christmas came again, and saw the house
If Worthington Brothers prosperous, and
'ld Joe happy, and Charles the husband
# the Flower of the DAISY. And again
he cedar tree was lit and spread around
IS cheerful light, and the loud wind
lughcd, and the merry goblins seemed to
hout; "A merry merry Christmas!"