a journey. His mother brought
some food to him in the room where he was confined.

"My son," she said, "will you promise not to betray me?"

"You are my mother," answered the child; "I will not betray you."

"Only promise me."

"I promise not to betray you."

"Well, know that I am not your mother and my husband is not your father."

The merchant came home from his journey and took the child some food, but
he would not eat it.

"Why won't you eat?" asked the merchant. "Could your mother have been
here?"

"No," answered the child, "she has not been here."

The merchant went to his wife and said to her, "Could you have gone up to
the child's chamber?"

The woman answered, "I did not go up to the room."

The merchant carried food to the child, who said: "For the love of God, I
adjure you to tell me if you are my father and if your wife is my mother."

The merchant answered: "My son, I am not your father and my wife is not
your mother."

The child said to her, "Prepare us some food."

When she had prepared the food the child mounted a horse and the merchant a
mule. They proceeded a long way, and arrived at the village of which the
real father of the child was the chief. They entered his house. They gave
food to the child, and said, "Eat."

"I will not eat until the other woman comes up here."

"Eat. She is a bad woman."

"No, let her come up." They called her. The merchant ran to the child.

"Why do you act thus toward her?"

"Oh!" cried those present, "she had a child that was changed into a crow."

"No doubt," said the merchant; "but the child had a mark."

"Yes, he had one."

"Well, if we find it, we shall recognize the child. Put out the lamp." They
put it out. The child threw off its hood. They lighted the lamp again.

"Rejoice," cried the child, "I am your son!"

* * * * *

H'AB SLIMAN

A man had a boy and a girl. Their mother died and he took another wife. The
little boy stayed at school until evening. The school-master asked them:

"What do your sisters do?"

One answered, "She makes bread."

A second, "She goes to fetch water."

A third, "She prepares the _couscous_."

When he questioned H'ab Sliman, the child played deaf, the master struck
him. One day his sister said to him: "What is the matter, O my brother? You
seem to be sad."

"Our schoolmaster punishes us," answered the child.

"And why does he punish you?" inquired the young girl