ddressing herself
to her eldest sister, "that I have better taste than you."

The youngest sister, who was very beautiful, and had more charms and
wit than the two elder, spoke in her turn: "For my part, sisters,"
said she, "I shall not limit my desires to such trifles, but take a
higher flight; and since we are upon wishing, I wish to be the
emperor's queen consort. I would make him father of a prince whose
hair should be gold on one side of his head, and silver on the other;
when he cried, the tears from his eyes should be pearl; and when he
smiled, his vermilion lips should look like a rose-bud fresh blown."

The three sisters' wishes, particularly that of the youngest, seemed
so singular to the sultan that he resolved to gratify them in their
desires; but without communicating his design to his grand vizier he
charged him only to take notice of the house, and bring the three
sisters before him the following day.

The grand vizier, in executing the emperor's orders, would give the
sisters but just time to dress themselves to appear before him,
without telling them the reason. He brought them to the palace and
presented them to the emperor, who said to them, "Do you remember the
wishes you expressed last night, when you were all in so pleasant a
mood? Speak the truth; I must know what they were."

At these unexpected words of the emperor the three sisters were much
confounded. They cast down their eyes and blushed. Modesty, and fear
lest they might have offended the emperor by their conversation, kept
them silent.

The emperor, perceiving their confusion, said, to encourage them,
"Fear nothing; I did not send for you to distress you; and since I see
that, without my intending it, is the effect of the question I asked,
as I know the wish of each I will relieve you from your fears. You,"
added he, "who wished to be my wife shall have your desire this day;
and you," continued he, addressing himself to the two elder sisters,
"shall also be married, to my chief baker and cook."

[Illustration: _The gardener, with a rake which he had in his hand,
drew the basket to the side of the canal Page 122_]

The nuptials were all celebrated that day, as the emperor had
resolved, but in a different manner. The youngest sister's were
solemnized with all the rejoicings usual at the marriages of the
emperors of Persia; and those of the other two sisters according to
the quality and distinction of their husbands; the one as the su