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Taranaki Daily News, 19 May 1928, Page 21

In a second Aladdin found himself standing outside his own palace in a lonely tart of Africa. Gwen and I were with him, though how we got there we hadn’t the faintest idea. Then Aladdin espied his Princess at a window high up in the wall. Climbing a tree he got near the window and gave her a great surprise. She told him how she ■was being kept a prisoner by the wicked magicion, and begged Aladdin to rescue her and take her home again. "We shall first have to get the wonderful lamp you sold him,” he explained, “but I have a scheme that will enable us to get it once again in our possession. Once we have that we shall be home again before you can say goose!”

Now Aladdin’s scheme was a very simple one. He proposed that the Princess Should ask the Magician to dine with her, and that she should give him a specially mixed drink that Aladdin would provide. This drink would send the magician to sleep for ever so long, and while he was asleep they would get the lamp and be off home without delay. The Princess was delighted with the idea, and accordingly invited the magician to dine. Thinking the Princess had forgiven him for what he had done, the magician accepted the invitation gladly. The meal was a great success, especially the drink Aladdin had provided. “My! it does look good,” said the magician, and, drinking it off at a draught, instantly fell fast asleep.

Aladdin, who had been hiding behind the curtain, rushed forth and began his search for the lamp. At first he failed to find it, and then it struck him that the magician would probably carry such a valuable treasure in a pocket, and sure enough he found it tucked away under his robe. The surprise of the Princess was great when the saw the power of the lamp. At the first summons a genie appeared. “Carry us all home,” said Aladdin, "and put the palace down in its proper place.” “Hear! Hear!” cried Gwen, who simply couldn’t hold her tongue. Instantly they al! found themselves home once again.

Now it happened that the very day on which Aladdin was recovering the lamp from the magician, the Sultan was taking the air in his garden. The lords and ladies of the Court were not displeased to see him out of the way for a time, because he had been very bad-tempered since the loss of his daughter and Aladdin’s wonderful palace of gems. And now Aladdin also had disappeared! “When I catch that young man,” the Sultan told the Grand Vizier, “off comes his head. Biff! Bang! like that,” and he glared fiercely beyond the Palace walls, at the spot on which Aladdin’s palace had stood. “Your Majesty shall be obeyed,” said the Grand Vizier. Suddenly the Sultan began to dance. “Look! Look!” he cried, “It’s come back.” Aladdin’s Palace had suddenly appeared. “Wow!” screamed the Grand Vizier, and, .running away in terror, he hid himself in the Court pantry.

to “v™ ? Ot very u l 0n ® befcre Aladdin his Princess and himself had not forgoiten Sr*’ alth ° U9h thin, kingdom. However all’s well that ends well, and the sultan ordered that rejoicing we°re bonnes a C nVair? o U e / O f U 7 ry a - h ° noUr ° f the return of the Princess ’ There de the Sultan rn Id ’r*' I o '” 9 ’’ and Aladdin ’ seated with his Princess boyplaying| in^h.Xt ’ ” he jUSt a P °° r

“Well, if that isn’t the most wonderful story I've ever heard,” said Polly “But how did you get back here?” "Just found ourselves upstairs in bed,” said Gwen. “ Ye *’.” ' ontinutd Richard, “when the story ends you just fly back home without knowing it.” "Wonderful!” said Polly, “I suppose Aladdin lived happily ever after?” "Rather!” chimed in Gwen, “and became Sultan when the Princess's father died ” "Well! All I can say,” said Polly, "is that the Land of the Arabian Nights is worth a visit, and if Gwendoesn't mind I’ll go with you next time!” “Right ho!” said Richard, “next week we’ll call up the Genie and see what other stories he has, and you and I will go.” “Agreed!” cried Polly, "I’m sure it will be exciting.”