Story Hour Readers Part 20

ALADDIN'S LAMP

Oh, whither away, ye children dear!

To Fairy Grove in Wonderland!

The trees bend low with a wondrous glows Diamonds and rubies the fruit, and lo, Gather the gems, for you they grow.

So hither hie, ye children dear!

To Fairy Grove in Wonderland!

Welcome prince and princess gay, Elf and fay and sprite at play, Dancing till the dawn of day.

Then hasten all, ye children dear!

To enter the Realm of Wonderland!

No giant or genie need cause you alarm, Treasures they'll give, and keep away harm, For ALADDIN'S LAMP is the hidden charm.

ALADDIN AND THE MAGIC LAMP

Aladdin was a poor boy who lived in a city of Persia. His mother was a widow. She supported herself by weaving mats.

One day Aladdin was playing in the street. A tall, dark man stood watching him. When the game was finished, the man beckoned to Aladdin to come to him.

"What is your name, my boy?" asked the man, who was a Magician.

"My name is Aladdin," answered the boy. He wondered who the stranger might be.

"And what is your father's name?" the Magician asked.

"My father was Mustapha the tailor, but he died when I was only two years of age," replied Aladdin.

"Alas!" cried the Magician, pretending to weep. "He was my brother, and you must be my nephew. I am your long lost uncle."

Then he embraced Aladdin and gave him five gold coins, saying, "Come with me, and I will show you the sights."

They went from the city, through pretty gardens, into the open country.

They walked a long distance.

The Magician gave Aladdin some delicious fruit to eat and told him wonderful stories. The lad scarcely noticed how very far they had gone.

At last they reached a valley between two mountains.

The Magician stood still for a moment and looked about him.

"Ah!" he exclaimed. "This is the very place for which I have been searching. Gather some sticks. I will kindle a fire."

Soon the fire was burning merrily. The Magician took a curious powder from his girdle. He mumbled strange words as he sprinkled it upon the flames.

In an instant, the earth beneath their feet trembled, and they heard a rumbling sound like distant thunder.

Then the ground opened in front of them. There lay a large flat stone with a bra.s.s ring fastened to the top.

"A wonderful treasure lies hidden below," said the Magician. "Obey me, and it will soon be ours."

Then Aladdin grasped the ring in the way the Magician told him to do, and easily lifted the stone.

"Now," said the Magician, "go down the steps which you see before you.

You will come to three great halls.

"Pa.s.s through the halls, but be careful to touch nothing, not even the walls, for if you do, you will certainly die. When you have pa.s.sed through the halls, you will reach a garden of fruit trees. In a niche in the garden wall, you will see a lighted lamp. Put out the light, pour the oil from the bowl, and bring the lamp to me."

Then the Magician placed a magic ring upon Aladdin's finger, to guard him, and commanded him to go at once in search of the lamp.

Aladdin found everything exactly as the Magician had said. He went through the halls and the garden until he found the lighted lamp. When he had poured out the oil and had placed the lamp inside his coat, he began to look about him.

Upon the trees were fruits of every color of the rainbow. Some were clear as crystal, some were ruby red, and others sparkled with a green, blue, or purple light.

The leaves of the trees were silver and gold. Aladdin did not know that these fruits were precious stones--diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and amethysts, but they looked so beautiful that he filled his pockets with them as he pa.s.sed back through the garden.

The Magician stood at the top of the steps as Aladdin began to climb upward.

"Give the lamp to me," he cried, holding out his hand.

"Wait until I reach the top of the steps," Aladdin answered.

"Hand the lamp to me at once!" screamed the Magician.

"Not until I am safely out," replied Aladdin.

Then in a rage the Magician rushed to the fire. He threw more of the curious powder upon the fire and muttered the same strange words as before.

Instantly the stone slipped back into its place. The earth closed over it, and Aladdin was left in darkness.

The Magician at once left Persia and went to Africa.

Poor Aladdin! He groped his way back through the halls to the beautiful garden of shining fruits, but he could find no way of escape. For two days, he cried and shouted for help. At last, as he clasped his hands in despair, he happened to rub the magic ring which the Magician had placed on his finger.

Instantly a Genie rose out of the earth and stood before him.

"What is thy will, my master?" asked the Genie. "I am the Slave of the Ring. I serve the one who wears it."

"Deliver me from this place!" cried Aladdin.