TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ALADDIN TOLD BY RICHARD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20127, 21 April 1928, Page 20 (Supplement)

TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ALADDIN TOLD BY RICHARD.

When Aladdin found himself shut up in the cave in Cviupiete darkness, knew that he was buried alive, he was full of dismay and surprise. He had never expected that his pretended uncle would play him such a cruel trick, and he called out that he was now ready to give up the lamp, if the magician would open the ground once more. But his cries were in vain! The magician had flown straight back to Africa where he lived. So poor Aladdin could do •nothing but sit on the steps and weep in despair. Gwendoline and I felt very sad, I can tell you. _____

Aladdin sat despairingly in the cavern for ever such a long time. “Why ioesn’t he do something to try and get out?” growled Gwendoline. ‘‘l’m sure I could scratch a hole myself.” ••Let’s wait and see what L pne ’ I “this can’t be the end of the story.’’ Aladdin cried harder than ever, and began to rub his hands together in his grief Then we had a shock. For out of the earth popped a Genie. “What would’st thou have with me,” he cried. “I am ready to obey thee is thy slave. I and the other slaves of the ring.” Aladdin must have rubbed the ring which was a magic one! The wicked magician had forgotten entirely that he had given it to the boy in a moment of generosity!

■ " - •' \ ene j - s • C such a dark cavern, and would have < But now the horror of being buried alive at one?: “Whoever you are, get me out of this place as quickly as you can.” Directly he had spoken, the earth opened and. with a rash, we flew into the fresh air. •2.y word,” cried Gwen, “isn’t he rapid? I’d sooner have walked out. .. «•«•»/» <-<• no ce jb’e’! D p r.’t rnTmb lo ” T C "Cd

o . uS ver; ] ised t di cover that the magician had. d. sappeared. As soon as he had recovered from his surprise, he made up his mind to try and find his way home again. As you know, the magician had led him far into the country, and Aladdin had an awful job to diocover the way. He wandered up hills and down dales, until Gwendoline and I began to get irightfully tired of climbing over rocks. Of course, Gwen began to grumble. “Why doesn’t he call the Genie to help him?” '■he muttered. ‘‘Because this is the real story of A aiddin,” I told her. “You can’t have it just how you think it ought to go!”

Aladdin’s mothei was very pleased to see her son safgly home again. When she heard all the terrible things that had happened to him she was full of indignation, but was glad he had escaped from the wicked magician. He showed her the beautiful fruit, but she bad not the slightest idea of its value, thinking it was only coloured glass. “Fancy!” she said, “all this tioub.'e to get this dirty old lamp.” and she held the lamp at arm’s length. “Anyway, it may be useful. I haven’t any money, and if I can clean it up nice!v we may be able to sell it and at feast get something nice to eat.” ..

... .. xump u v uix <-xxc uuUxc and, getting a. .e clean cloth, prepared to polish it. “I cannot see why that old magician should desire such a dirty old lamp,” she said. “I fear nobody will ever buy it when it is clean, and at that she commenced to rub the rust away. But she had no sooner given one rub than there was a flash of light, and a Genie of the largest size suddenly appeared. “Meow!” cried Gwen, “it’s a magic lamp.”

“What would’st th vs cried the Genie. “I am ready to obey thee as thy slave; I and the other slaves of the lamp.”