There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin,a careless, idle boy who would do nothing but play all day long inthe streets with little idle boys like himself.This so grieved thefather that he died; yet, in spite of his mother's tears and prayers,Aladdin did not mend his ways.One day, when he was playing in thestreets as usual, a stranger asked him his age, and if he was notthe son of Mustapha the tailor."I am, sir," replied Aladdin;"but he died a long while ago."On this the stranger, who wasa famous African magician, fell on his neck and kissed him saying:

"I am your uncle, and knew you from your likeness to my brother.

Go to your mother and tell her I am coming."Aladdin ran homeand told his mother of his newly found uncle."Indeed, child," shesaid, "your father had a brother, but I always thought he was dead."However, she prepared supper, and bade Aladdin seek his uncle,who came laden with wine and fruit.He fell down and kissed theplace where Mustapha used to sit, bidding Aladdin's mother not tobe surprised at not having seen him before, as he had been fortyyears out of the country.He then turned to Aladdin, and askedhim his trade, at which the boy hung his head, while his motherburst into tears.On learning that Aladdin was idle and wouldlearn no trade, he offered to take a shop for him and stock it withmerchandise.Next day he bought Aladdin a fine suit of clothes andtook him all over the city, showing him the sights, and brought him homeat nightfall to his mother, who was overjoyed to see her son so fine.

Next day the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens along way outside the city gates.They sat down by a fountain andthe magician pulled a cake from his girdle, which he dividedbetween them.Then they journeyed onwards till they almost reachedthe mountains.Aladdin was so tired that he begged to go back,but the magician beguiled him with pleasant stories and lead himon in spite of himself.At last they came to two mountainsdivided by a narrow valley."We will go no farther," saidhis uncle."I will show you something wonderful; only do yougather up sticks while I kindle a fire."When it was lit themagician threw on it a powder he had about him, at the same timesaying some magical words.The earth trembled a little in frontof them, disclosing a square flat stone with a brass ring in themiddle to raise it by.Aladdin tried to run away, but themagician caught him and gave him a blow that knocked him down.

"What have I done, uncle?" he said piteously; whereupon themagician said more kindly:"Fear nothing, but obey me.Beneaththis stone lies a treasure which is to be yours, and no one elsemay touch it, so you must do exactly as I tell you."At the wordtreasure Aladdin forgot his fears, and grasped the ring as he wastold, saying the names of his father and grandfather.The stonecame up quite easily, and some steps appeared."Go down," saidthe magician; "at the foot of those steps you will find an opendoor leading into three large halls.Tuck up your gown and gothrough them without touching anything, or you will die instantly.

These halls lead into a garden of fine fruit trees.Walk on tillyou come to niche in a terrace where stands a lighted lamp.Pourout the oil it contains, and bring it me."He drew a ring fromhis finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him prosper.

Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered somefruit off the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at themouth of the cave.The magician cried out in a great hurry:

"Make haste and give me the lamp."This Aladdin refused to do untilhe was out of the cave.The magician flew into a terrible passion,and throwing some more powder on to the fire, he said something,and the stone rolled back into its place.

The man left the country, which plainly showed that he was nouncle of Aladdin's but a cunning magician, who had read in hismagic books of a wonderful lamp, which would make him the mostpowerful man in the world.Though he alone knew where to find it,he could only receive it from the hand of another.He had pickedout the foolish Aladdin for this purpose, intending to get thelamp and kill him afterwards.

For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting.

At last he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbedthe ring, which the magician had forgotten to take from him.

Immediately an enormous and frightful genie rose out of the earth,saying:"What wouldst thou with me?I am the Slave of the Ring,and will obey thee in all things."Aladdin fearlessly replied,"Deliver me from this place!" whereupon the earth opened, and hefound himself outside.As soon as his eyes could bear the lighthe went home, but fainted on the threshold.When he came tohimself he told his mother what had passed, and showed her thelamp and the fruits he had gathered in the garden, which were inreality precious stones.He then asked for some food."Alas!

child," she said, "I have nothing in the house, but I have spun alittle cotton and will go sell it."Aladdin bade her keep hercotton, for he would sell the lamp instead.As it was very dirty,she began to rub it, that it might fetch a higher price.

Instantly a hideous genie appeared, and asked what she would have.

She fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly:

"Fetch me something to eat!"The genie returned with a silverbowl, twelve silver plates containing rich meats, two silver cups,and two bottles of wine.Aladdin's mother, when she came to herself,said:"Whence comes this splendid feast?""Ask not, but eat,"replied Aladdin.So they sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time,and Aladdin told his mother about the lamp.She begged him to sell it,and have nothing to do with devils."No," said Aladdin, "since chancehath made us aware of its virtues, we will use it, and the ring likewise,which I shall always wear on my finger."When they had eaten all thegenie had brought, Aladdin sold one of the silver plates, and so onuntil none were left.He then had recourse to the genie, who gave himanother set of plates, and thus they lived many years.

One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed thateveryone was to stay at home and close his shutters while thePrincess his daughter went to and from the bath.Aladdin wasseized by a desire to see her face, which was very difficult,as she always went veiled.He hid himself behind the door ofthe bath, and peeped through a chink.The Princess lifted her veilas she went in, and looked so beautiful that Aladdin fell in lovewith her at first sight.He went home so changed that his motherwas frightened.He told her he loved the Princess so deeply hecould not live without her, and meant to ask her in marriage ofher father.His mother, on hearing this, burst out laughing, butAladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before the Sultan andcarry his request.She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magicfruits from the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone likethe most beautiful jewels.She took these with her to please theSultan, and set out, trusting in the lamp.The Grand Vizier andthe lords of council had just gone in as she entered the hall andplaced herself in front of the Sultan.He, however, took nonotice of her.She went every day for a week, and stood in thesame place.When the council broke up on the sixth day the Sultansaid to his Vizier:"I see a certain woman in the audience-chamberevery day carrying something in a napkin.Call her next time,that I may find out what she wants."Next day, at a sign fromthe vizier, she went up to the foot of the throne and remainedkneeling until the Sultan said to her:"Rise, good woman, andtell me what you want."She hesitated, so the Sultan sent awayall but the Vizier, and bade her speak freely, promising toforgive her beforehand for anything she might say.She then toldhim of her son's violent love for the Princess."I prayed him toforget her," she said, "but in vain; he threatened to do somedesperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for thehand of the Princess.Now I pray you to forgive not me alone,but my son Aladdin."The Sultan asked her kindly what she had inthe napkin, whereupon she unfolded the jewels and presented them.

He was thunderstruck, and turning to the vizier, said:"Whatsayest thou?Ought I not to bestow the Princess on one whovalues her at such a price?"The Vizier, who wanted her for hisown son, begged the Sultan to withhold her for three months, inthe course of which he hoped his son could contrive to make him aricher present.The Sultan granted this, and told Aladdin'smother that, though he consented to the marriage, she must notappear before him again for three months.

Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after twohad elapsed, his mother, going into the city to buy oil, foundeveryone rejoicing, and asked what was going on."Do you notknow," was the answer, "that the son of the Grand Vizier is tomarry the Sultan's daughter tonight?"Breathless she ran and toldAladdin, who was overwhelmed at first, but presently bethoughthim of the lamp.He rubbed it and the genie appeared, saying:

"What is thy will?"Aladdin replied:"The Sultan, as thou knowest,has broken his promise to me, and the vizier's son is to havethe Princess.My command is that to-night you bring hitherthe bride and bridegroom.""Master, I obey," said the genie.

Aladdin then went to his chamber, where, sure enough, atmidnight the genie transported the bed containing the vizier'sson and the Princess."Take this new-married man," he said, "andput him outside in the cold, and return at daybreak."Whereuponthe genie took the vizier's son out of bed, leaving Aladdin withthe Princess."Fear nothing," Aladdin said to her; "you are mywife, promised to me by your unjust father, and no harm will cometo you."The Princess was too frightened to speak, and passedthe most miserable night of her life, while Aladdin lay downbeside her and slept soundly.At the appointed hour the geniefetched in the shivering bridegroom, laid him in his place,and transported the bed back to the palace.

Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter good-morning.

The unhappy Vizier's son jumped up and hid himself, while thePrincess would not say a word and was very sorrowful.The Sultansent her mother to her, who said:"How comes it, child, that youwill not speak to your father?What has happened?"The Princesssighed deeply, and at last told her mother how, during the night,the bed had been carried into some strange house, and what hadpassed there. Her mother did not believe her in the least,but bade her rise and consider it an idle dream.

The following night exactly the same thing happened, and nextmorning, on the Princess's refusing to speak, the Sultanthreatened to cut off her head.She then confessed all, biddinghim ask the Vizier's son if it were not so.The Sultan told theVizier to ask his son, who owned the truth, adding that, dearlyas he loved the Princess, he had rather die than go throughanother such fearful night, and wished to be separated from her.

His wish was granted, and there was an end of feasting and rejoicing.

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother toremind the Sultan of his promise.She stood in the same place asbefore, and the Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at onceremembered him, and sent for her.On seeing her poverty theSultan felt less inclined than ever to keep his word, and askedhis Vizier's advice, who counselled him to set so high a value onthe Princess that no man living would come up to it.The Sultanthan turned to Aladdin's mother, saying:"Good woman, a sultanmust remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but yourson must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of jewels,carried by forty black slaves, led by as many white ones,splendidly dressed.Tell him that I await his answer."Themother of Aladdin bowed low and went home, thinking all was lost.

She gave Aladdin the message adding, "He may wait long enough foryour answer!""Not so long, mother, as you think," her son replied.

"I would do a great deal more than that for the Princess."He summoned the genie, and in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived,and filled up the small house and garden.Aladdin made them to setout to the palace, two by two, followed by his mother.They were sorichly dressed, with such splendid jewels, that everyone crowdedto see them and the basins of gold they carried on their heads.

They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan,stood in a half-circle round the throne with their arms crossed,while Aladdin's mother presented them to the Sultan.He hesitatedno longer, but said:"Good woman, return and tell your son that Iwait for him with open arms."She lost no time in telling Aladdin,bidding him make haste.But Aladdin first called the genie.

"I want a scented bath," he said, "a richly embroidered habit,a horse surpassing the Sultan's, and twenty slaves to attend me.

Besides this, six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother;and lastly, ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses."No sooner saidthen done.Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the streets,the slaves strewing gold as they went.Those who had played withhim in his childhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome.

When the sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced him,and led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intendingto marry him to the Princess that very day.But Aladdin refused,saying, "I must build a palace fit for her," and took his leave.

Once home, he said to the genie:"Build me a palace of the finestmarble, set with jasper, agate, and other precious stones.In themiddle you shall build me a large hall with a dome, its four wallsof massy gold and silver, each side having six windows, whose lattices,all except one which is to be left unfinished, must be set with diamondsand rubies.There must be stables and horses and grooms and slaves;go and see about it!"

The palace was finished the next day, and the genie carried himthere and showed him all his orders faithfully carried out, evento the laying of a velvet carpet from Aladdin's palace to the Sultan's.

Aladdin's mother then dressed herself carefully, and walked to thepalace with her slaves, while he followed her on horseback.

The Sultan sent musicians with trumpets and cymbals tomeet them, so that the air resounded with music and cheers.

She was taken to the Princess, who saluted her and treated her withgreat honour.At night the princess said good-bye to her father,and set out on the carpet for Aladdin's palace, with his motherat her side, and followed by the hundred slaves.She was charmedat the sight of Aladdin, who ran to receive her."Princess," hesaid, "blame your beauty for my boldness if I have displeased you."She told him that, having seen him, she willingly obeyedher father in this matter.After the wedding had taken place,Aladdin led her into the hall, where a feast was spread, and shesupped with him, after which they danced till midnight.

Next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace.Onentering the hall with the four-and-twenty windows with theirrubies, diamonds and emeralds, he cried, "It is a world's wonder!

There is only one thing that surprises me.Was it by accidentthat one window was left unfinished?""No, sir, by design,"returned Aladdin."I wished your Majesty to have the glory offinishing this palace."The Sultan was pleased, and sent for thebest jewelers in the city.He showed them the unfinished window,and bade them fit it up like the others."Sir," replied theirspokesman, "we cannot find jewels enough."The Sultan had his ownfetched, which they soon used, but to no purpose, for in a month'stime the work was not half done.Aladdin knowing that their taskwas vain, bade them undo their work and carry the jewels back, andthe genie finished the window at his command.The Sultan wassurprised to receive his jewels again, and visited Aladdin, whoshowed him the window finished.The Sultan embraced him, theenvious vizier meanwhile hinting that it was the work of enchantment.

Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle bearing.

He was made captain of the Sultan's armies, and won severalbattles for him, but remained as courteous as before, and livedthus in peace and content for several years.