in's, but a cunning magician, who had read in his magic
books of a wonderful lamp, which would make him the most powerful man
in the world. Though he alone knew where to find it, he could only
receive it from the hand of another. He had picked out the foolish
Aladdin for this purpose, intending to get the lamp and kill him
afterwards.

[Illustration: "I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey thee in
all things"]

For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting. At
last he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring,
which the magician had forgotten to take from him. Immediately an
enormous and frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying: "What
wouldst thou with me? I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey thee
in all things." Aladdin fearlessly replied: "Deliver me from this
place!" whereupon the earth opened, and he found himself outside. As
soon as his eyes could bear the light he went home, but fainted on the
threshold. When he came to himself he told his mother what had passed,
and showed her the lamp and the fruits he had gathered in the garden,
which were in reality precious stones. He then asked for some food.
"Alas! child," she said, "I have nothing in the house, but I have spun
a little cotton and will go and sell it." Aladdin bade her keep her
cotton, for he would sell the lamp instead. As it was very dirty she
began to rub it, that it might fetch a higher price. Instantly a
hideous genie appeared, and asked what she would have. She fainted
away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly: "Fetch me
something to eat!" The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve
silver plates containing rich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles
of wine. Aladdin's mother, when she came to herself, said: "Whence
comes this splendid feast?" "Ask not, but eat," replied Aladdin. So
they sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told his
mother about the lamp. She begged him to sell it, and have nothing to
do with devils. "No," said Aladdin, "since chance hath made us aware
of its virtues, we will use it, and the ring likewise, which I shall
always wear on my finger." When they had eaten all the genie had
brought Aladdin sold one of the silver plates, and so on until none
were left. He then had recourse to the genie, who gave him another set
of plates, and thus they lived for many years.

One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed that every
one was