The Junior Classics, Volume 5: Stories that never grow old — John Shaqi
The Junior Classics, Volume 5: Stories that never grow old
General
The Junior Classics, Volume 5: Stories that never grow old
Children's literature
Aladdin, who knew that all the sultan's endeavors to make this
window like the rest were in vain, sent for the jewellers and
goldsmiths, and not only commanded them to desist from their
work, but ordered them to undo what they had begun, and to carry
all their jewels back to the sultan and to the vizier. They undid
in a few hours what they had been six weeks about, and retired,
leaving Aladdin alone in the hall. He took the lamp, which he
carried about him, rubbed it, and presently the genie appeared.
"Genie," said Aladdin, "I ordered thee to leave one of the four-
and-twenty windows of this hall imperfect, and thou hast executed
my commands punctually; now I would have thee make it like the
rest." The genie immediately disappeared. Aladdin went out of the
hall, and returning soon after, found the window, as he wished it
to be, like the others.
In the meantime, the jewellers and goldsmiths repaired to the
palace, and were introduced into the sultan's presence, where the
chief jeweller presented the precious stones which he had brought
back. The sultan asked them if Aladdin had given them any reason
for so doing, and they answering that he had given them none, he
ordered a horse to be brought, which he mounted, and rode to his
son-in-law's palace, with some few attendants on foot, to inquire
why he had ordered the completion of the window to be stopped.
Aladdin met him at the gate, and without giving any reply to his
inquiries conducted him to the grand saloon, where the sultan, to
his great surprise, found the window which was left imperfect to
correspond exactly with the others. He fancied at first that he
was mistaken, and examined the two windows on each side, and
afterward all the four and twenty; but when he was convinced that
the window which several workmen had been so long about was
finished in so short a time, he embraced Aladdin and kissed him
between his eyes. "My son," said he, "what a man you are to do
such surprising things always in the twinkling of an eye! There is
not your fellow in the world; the more I know, the more I admire
you."
The sultan returned to the palace, and after this went frequently
to the window to contemplate and admire the wonderful palace of
his son-in-law.
Aladdin did not confine himself in his palace, but went with much
state, sometimes to one mosque, and sometimes to another, to
prayers, or to visit the grand vizier, or the principal lords of
the court. Every time he went out, he caused two slaves, who
walked by the side of his horse, to throw handfuls of money among
the people as he passed through the streets and squares. This
generosity gained him the love and blessings of the people, and it
was common for them to swear by his head. Thus Aladdin, while he
paid all respect to the sultan, won by his affable behavior and
liberality the affections of the people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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