t this stone," and he
took a diamond the size of a dove's egg from the casket, "this stone
brings all the riches he can think of to its owner. He has but to rub
the stone and repeat his wish aloud." He replaced the stones in the
casket, closed the lid, and handed it to the merchant, who thanked the
Shah, hid the treasure in his robes, and hastened to rejoin his
caravan.

Once again in his own house he often looked at the princely gift, and
one day as he was rubbing the lid he noticed an inscription upon it,
that had hitherto been unseen. It ran:--

"'Tis Allah's will that he who cherishes
The precious gift that never perishes.
Shall make the East to bend as low
As palms that in the whirlwind blow."

Kalif never spoke of his adventure in the Kalaat Mountains, neither
could he ever make up his mind to test the virtue of the stones, being
a frugal man on the one hand, and unwilling to surpass his neighbours
in wisdom on the other. But at length the news of the Shah's rescue by
the merchant reached even Bagdad, together with the account of the
Royal reward, and people jostled one another to call on the merchant
and see with their own eyes the wonderful casket. In consequence Kalif
had more customers in one day than he generally had in ten years, and
his daily receipts testified to the worth of the casket. For many
years he enjoyed the reward of his bravery, and at his death Ali
Haitam, the eldest son, proposed that they should draw lots for the
magic stones. He had great ideas of his own cleverness, and hoped from
the bottom of his heart to win the lapis lazuli. Ali Hassuf, the
second son, whose sole failing was insatiable greed, was quite
agreeable, though in secret he was revolving in his own mind how to
obtain the diamond in case it fell into the hands of the youngest son.
But just as they were about to draw, Abdul Kassim, the youngest son,
said: "Dear brothers, we are three, and there are but two stones. It
would be better, therefore, for one to renounce his claim in order
that no dispute may arise in our hitherto peace-loving family. I am
the youngest, and therefore can have least claim on the stones. Throw
to decide which stone shall fall to each. I resign!"

The other two were delighted and, as it happened, each got the stone
he desired.

"But in order that I may have a keepsake of my dear father," continued
Abdul Kassim, "permit me to take home the casket. It will be of no use
to you, since y