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ALADDIN

TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

TOLD BY BICHAI.'D.

The wicked magician soon learnt all at out Aladdin and the wonder fill palace in which he was living with his Princess, and he formed a cunning p!an which he felt certain would enable him to get possession of the magic lamp. Disguising himself as a poor merchant, he went along the streets crying out, ‘•New lamps for old. I will change your old lamps for bright new ones.” Even the boys in the road laughed at the idea of giving new lamps for old ones, but, of course, the magician had a reason for this generosity. ‘‘New lamps for old. new lamps for old,” he cried all through the streets.

Of course the magician made a special point of crying ‘‘New lamps for old” outside Aladdin's home. He knew that Aladdin had gone away into the country and that the magic lamp was in the Palace. Now it happened that one of the Princess’ maids heard the magician, and greatly amused, she told her mistress there was a stupid old man outside who was willing to exchange bright new lamps for old ones. “Shall we exchange the dirty old one that Prince Aladdin keeps in his room?” she asked. The Princess thought it would be a pleasant surprise for Aladdin when he returned and found a bright r.cw lamp in place of the old one, so she sent the maid down and made the exchange. “My word!” said Gwen, “he's got it."

Of course the Princess had no idea of the value of the magic lamp, and little dreamt what power she had placed in the hands of the wicked magician. He quickly grabbed the lamp and hurried off to a lonely spot to test its virtues. One sharp rub brought a genie, who was not too pleased to be in the power of the wicked magician. “What do you want?” he grumbled, for, of course, he had to obey the owner of the lamp, no matter who it was, • • Carry me. together with the Princess, Aladdin’s palace, and all within it, to the middle of Africa.” he cried, “and look sharp about it.” The words were hardly uttered before Aladdin’s splendid palace was set down on a lonely spot in Africa.

Siuiiai very soon unit cue wviKiaiui Palace had disappeared. And the idea that not only his daughter had i*aished, but also the costly gems of which the palace was built, drove the greedy old man into a terrible rage. The Grand Vizier, who hated Aladdin, only irritated him more when he said “I told you so—l knew this would happen.” So he sent for Aladdin and told him to make his will, as he had asked the Court executioner to come round and cut off his head. “How could I help it?” said Aladdin. “And who is going to find tk> Princess if you cut my head off?” The Sultan hadn’t thought of this, so he gave Aladdin forty days to find both the Palace and the Princess. Fa i<! Gwen, “How is he going to do it?”

When Aladdin left the Sultan, he had no idea how he was to find the Princess and his wonderful Palace. Without possession of the magic lamp he felt absolutely helpless. For days poor Aladdin wandered round the city, making all sorts of enquiries, until the mere mention of his magic palace made the people laugh, and they began to look upon him as being quite mad. At last he wandered far out into the country and, feeling that his task was hopeless. sat down upon the rock and gave way to despair. Gwen and I had quite an argument as to what was going to happen. “What can happen?” said Gwen, “he hasn’t got the magic lamp.” “Well the tale isn’t finished,” I said, “so something must happen,” and sure enough something did.

Aladdin in his grief placed his hands before his lace and the magic ring that the magician had given him struck cold against his forehead. Then suddenly he remembered the power of the ring which he had forgotten while he had had the magic lamp. Rubbing the magic ring would summon a genie to his aid. No sooner had he remembered this than he rubbed the ring and, to his great joy a genie appeared. “What would’st thou of me?” cried the genie, and Aladdin quickly explained what had happened, and asked that his palace might be brought back. But the genie c’v.’d not, do this as that power only belonged to the genie of the lamp. “Thor. >?*. mo c / my palace." cried Aladdin. • ‘lt shall be done, ’ ’ cried the

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19280519.2.101.26

Bibliographic details

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20150, 19 May 1928, Page 8 (Supplement)

Word Count
783

ALADDIN Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20150, 19 May 1928, Page 8 (Supplement)

ALADDIN Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20150, 19 May 1928, Page 8 (Supplement)