The Junior Classics, Volume 5: Stories that never grow old
General
The Junior Classics, Volume 5: Stories that never grow old
Children's literature
When Aladdin was out of the palace, he looked around him on all
sides, and perceiving a peasant going into the country, hastened
after him; and when he had overtaken him, made a proposal to him
to change clothes, which the man agreed to. When they had made the
exchange, the countryman went about his business, and Aladdin
entered the neighboring city. After traversing several streets, he
came to that part of the town where the merchants and artisans had
their particular streets according to their trades. He went into
that of the druggists, and entering one of the largest and best
furnished shops, asked the druggist if he had a certain powder,
which he named.
The druggist, judging Aladdin by his habit to be very poor, told
him he had it, but that it was very dear. Upon which Aladdin,
penetrating his thoughts, pulled out his purse, and, showing him
some gold, asked for half a dram of the powder, which the druggist
weighed and gave him, telling him the price was a piece of gold.
Aladdin put the money into his hand, and hastened to the palace,
which he entered at once by the private door. When he came into
the princess's apartment, he said to her, "Princess, you must take
your part in the scheme which I propose for our deliverance. You
must overcome your aversion to the magician, and assume a most
friendly manner toward him, and ask him to oblige you by partaking
of an entertainment in your apartments. Before he leaves ask him
to exchange cups with you, which he, gratified at the honor you do
him, will gladly do, when you must give him the cup containing
this powder. On drinking it he will instantly fall asleep, and we
will obtain the lamp, whose slaves will do all our bidding, and
restore us and the palace to the capital of China."
The princess obeyed to the utmost her husband's instructions. She
assumed a look of pleasure on the next visit of the magician, and
asked him to an entertainment, which he most willingly accepted.
At the close of the evening, during which the princess had tried
all she could to please him, she asked him to exchange cups with
her, and, giving the signal, had the drugged cup brought to her,
which she gave to the magician. He drank it out of compliment to
the princess to the very last drop, when he fell backward lifeless
on the sofa.
The princess, in anticipation of the success of her scheme, had so
placed her women from the great hall to the foot of the staircase,
that the word was no sooner given that the African magician was
fallen backward, than the door was opened and Aladdin admitted to
the hall. The princess rose from her seat, and ran overjoyed to
embrace him; but he stopped her, and said, "Princess, retire to
your apartment, and let me be left alone, while I endeavor to
transport you back to China as speedily as you were brought from
thence."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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