Story Hour Readers Part 22

When the Magician saw the lamp, he knew that it was the one for which he was searching.

He took the magic lamp eagerly and gave the slave all of the new lamps.

Then the Magician hurried out of the city. When he was alone, he rubbed the magic lamp, and the Genie stood before him.

"What is thy will, master?" said he.

"I command thee to carry the palace of Aladdin, with the Princess inside, to Africa," said the Magician.

Instantly the palace disappeared.

The Sultan looked out of his window the next morning. No palace was to be seen.

"This has been done by magic!" the Sultan exclaimed.

He sent his soldiers to bring Aladdin home in chains. They met him riding back from the hunt. They carried him to the Sultan.

When Aladdin was allowed to speak, he asked why he was made prisoner.

"Wretch!" exclaimed the Sultan. "Come and I will show you."

Then he led Aladdin to the window and showed him that where the palace had been there was only an empty s.p.a.ce.

Aladdin begged the Sultan to spare his life and grant him forty days in which to find the Princess.

So Aladdin was set free. He searched everywhere, but he could find no trace of the Princess.

In despair, he wrung his hands. As he did so, he rubbed the magic ring.

Instantly the Slave of the Ring appeared.

"What is thy will, master?" asked the Genie.

"Bring back the Princess and the palace," said Aladdin.

"That is not within my power," said the Genie. "Only the Slave of the Lamp can bring back the palace."

"Then take me to the place where the palace now stands, and set me down under the window of the Princess."

Almost before Aladdin had finished these words, he found himself in Africa, beneath a window of his own palace.

"Princess! Princess!" called Aladdin.

The Princess opened the window.

With a cry of joy, Aladdin entered and embraced the Princess. "Tell me, dear," said he, "what has become of the old lamp that stood in the niche of the wall?"

"Alas!" replied the Princess. "A man came through the streets, crying, 'New lamps for old!' I gave him the lamp that stood in the niche, and the next I knew I was here."

"The man is a Magician. He wished only to secure the magic lamp," said Aladdin.

"The Magician is here," said the Princess. "He carries the magic lamp hidden in his robes during the day, and he places it under his pillow at night."

While the Magician was sleeping that night, Aladdin stole softly into the room and took the magic lamp from under the pillow. Then he rubbed the lamp and the Genie appeared.

"I command you to carry the Princess and the palace back to Persia,"

cried Aladdin.

The following morning, the Sultan looked out of the window. There, to his surprise, stood the palace of Aladdin, in the very place from which it had disappeared.

Aladdin and the Princess lived happily for many years. When the Sultan died, they ruled in his place. They were beloved by the people, and there was peace in all the land.

THE WHITING AND THE SNAIL

"Will you walk a little faster?"

Said a whiting to a snail, "There's a porpoise close behind us, And he's treading on my tail.

See how eagerly the lobsters And the turtles all advance!

They are waiting on the shingle-- Will you come and join the dance?

"You can really have no notion How delightful it will be, When they take us up and throw us With the lobsters out to sea!

But the snail replied, "Too far, too far!"

And gave a look askance-- Said he thanked the whiting kindly, But he would not join the dance.

"What matters it how far we go?"

His scaly friend replied, "There is another sh.o.r.e you know, Upon the other side.

The further off from England The nearer is to France; Then turn not pale, beloved snail, But come and join the dance."

LEWIS CARROLL.

THE BONFIRE IN THE SEA

Long, long ago, in Australia, it is said, fishes could travel as easily on land as they could swim in water.

It happened, so the story goes, that the whole fish tribe had been playing tag along a sandy beach near the sea. At last they became tired of the game, Fin-fin, the leader of the fishes, said, "Let us coast down the great, black rock."

Now beyond the level sh.o.r.e where the fishes had been playing tag, there were cliffs and rocks. Some of the rocks rose straight out of the water, others sloped toward the sandy beach.

High above the rest towered the great, black rock. The fishes climbed to the top Then, one after another, they followed the leader, each gliding head foremost down the rock. It was fine sport!

Then the fishes formed a circle and danced, while Fin-fin slid down the rock alone,