THE WONDERFUL LAMP - III Meanwhile the news of Aladdin's success reached the African magician. Enraged beyond measure at the good fortune of the boy he had left to perish, and knowing full well the secret of it, he made up his mind to have the 5 magic lamp at any cost. He set out for China, where he arrived during Aladdin's absence on a hunting trip, and proceeded at once to carry out his plan. Disguising himself as a peddler, and carrying a dozen handsome lamps in a basket, he went forth into the streets of the city, crying, 10"New lamps for old ones," to the amazement of all who heard him. Up and down the streets he went, crying his wares, until he came near Aladdin's splendid palace, the sight of which added to his rage. When Aladdin's wife heard the 15 peddler's strange offer, and saw the crowds of people who were following him about, she said to one of her servants: "Give the man the old copper lamp on yonder stand. Perhaps he will give us a new one for it." The peddler was indeed delighted to make the exchange, 20 for he had no doubt that this was the very lamp that he was looking for. As soon as he found himself alone he rubbed the lamp and the genie appeared, saying, as usual: "What wouldst thou? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave; the slave of all those who hold that lamp in their hands, — I, and the other slaves of the lamp.' "I command you," said the magician, "to carry me, together with the palace you have built, and all who are in it, across the sea to Africa." Instantly the genie obeyed, and when Aladdin returned from his journey he could find no trace of his beloved princess or his former home. The sultan met him with bitter reproaches. 5 "Where is my daughter?" cried the unhappy father. 10 "Return her to me or your own life shall be sacrificed." "Give me three days, O sultan," answered Aladdin. "If in that time I have not found the princess, my life is your hands." in Begone, then," said the sultan, "but fail not to 15 return. My anger shall follow you to the ends of the earth if you try to escape." Miserable and hopeless, Aladdin wandered down to the riverside. As he stood there his foot slipped and he would have fallen into the water had he not clung to a tree for 20 support. The rough bark rubbed a ring on his hand the same ring which had once before saved his life—and again its genie stood before him. "Bring me back my palace and my wife," cried Aladdin, overjoyed at the sight. 25 "That I cannot do," said the genie. "You must summon the slave of the lamp. But I will carry you to the place where it now stands." In a moment Aladdin found himself gently borne 5 through the air, and before long he was set down under the windows of the princess. He quickly made himself known to her, and together they planned to get possession of the magic lamp. This they accomplished by a clever trick, and on the morning of the third day Aladdin was 10 able to restore his palace, with all that it contained, to its usual place. The delighted sultan embraced Aladdin and the princess with equal affection, and the whole city rejoiced at their safe return. The death of the magician restored peace to their hearts, and they lived to reign over 15 a prosperous and loyal people. Abridged from The Arabian Nights African magician: this would be accurately translated as a "magician from Tunis," but the old phrase is now so familiar that it has been allowed to remain. -Mustapha (mus'tä phä).—craftily: deceitfully. — vizier (viz ́yer): a high official; the grand vizier was the prime minister. 5 10 ALADDIN JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL (1819-1891) was one of America's most distinguished men of letters. As a poet, essayist, and critic his writings cover a wide range and are notable for power of thought and elegance of expression. Among his best known poems are The Vision of Sir Launfal and The Biglow Papers. When I was a beggarly boy, And lived in a cellar damp, I had not a friend nor a toy, But I had Aladdin's lamp; When I could not sleep for the cold, I had fire enough in my brain, Since then I have toiled day and night, I have nothing 't would pain me to lose, THE GIRL OF THE VIRGINIA FORESTS-I E. S. BROOKS E. S. BROOKS, an American author and editor, was born in 1846, and died in 1902. This selection is taken from Historic Girls. In the eastern part of the United States where Chesapeake Bay cuts Virginia in two, and where the river 5 James rolls its glittering waters toward the sea, there lived, years ago, a notable race of men. For many hundreds of years they had held the land, and though their clothing was scanty and their customs odd, they possessed many noble traits of character. 10 They lived in long, low houses of bark and boughs, each house large enough, perhaps, to accommodate from eighty to one hundred persons. The rooms of these houses were open stalls about eight feet wide; they were all on the same floor and were arranged on each 15 side of a broad, central passageway. In this passageway, at equal distances apart, fire pits were constructed, the heat from which warmed the bodies and cooked the dinners of the members of the household. Around their bark houses stretched carefully cultivated 20 fields of corn and pumpkins, the trailing bean, the fullbunched grapevine, the juicy melon, and the big-leafed tabah or tobacco. |