“ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20168, 9 June 1928, Page 8 (Supplement)

“ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES”

TAI F-S FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

TOLD BY RICHARD.

And All Bata’s wife, being curious to know how much gold they now assessed could not resist the temptation to weigh the gold. Finding she ain’t a large enough measure of her own, she hurried round to Cassinis Mto borrow oTe. Now Cassim’s wife was also curious to know why such oor people as Ali Baba and his wife should want such a huge measure So he took the trouble to smear the bottom of the measure with fat, tha particle of whatever All Baba’s wife was going to measure wou_d stick to lie bottom and remain unnoticed until the measure was returned. Ali Baba’s wife hurried home, and, not noticing the fat m her excitemen , relabel the gold, and returned the measure.

, ; k.-c .ithvc.i the measure back she examined it carefully and to her ahwi.shment, noticed a gold piece hidden in the fat. Although she had plenty of money herself, she became filled with envy to think that Ali Baba’s wife tad so much gold that she had need to measure it. Calling her husband she ew.'lained what happened, and showed him the gold piece. Now although Cassim was quite a riel, r rn thcrg-it tr.at bis brother bad suddenly become possessed of sc mucli gobi rl-rrx him into a great rage, and he laid awake all night wondering how Ali lii-.-i had managed to obtain it. He decided to see his brother next morning and find out.

Next morning caoorrn c.-.. —q Showing u.m the gold piece that had been found in the measure, demanded to know where he had got so much gold. Poor Ali Baba saw he could no longer keep the secret of the Robbers’ cave, and so he was compelled to tell his brother of his adventures in the forest. When Cassim heard the story, being a very greedy man, he determined to get all the treasure for himself. “Oh!” said he, “that’s a fine tale. Tell me the secret of the cave, and I’ll go and see for myself. Otherwise I shall tell the rulers of the town that you are in league with the robbers." "So poor Ali Baba was compelled to tell his brother everything. "Gr-r-r-r-r.” sT-nv’ed Bichard. “I’ve » rro' rvi-nfl. to b’tc him.”

_*,r.y AcX'. mOiUli.g uasssm set'oxr ivr Lie roofers’ cave ■Wtn nwi'c loaded i ith chests to take ail the treasure away. Following Ali Baba’s instruction le soon found the rock. Immediately he cried “Open Sesame!” the door flew spen and. to his delight and wonderment, he found himself gazing upon treasure greater than he had ever dreamed about. But Cassim’s greed was to be his undoing. So delighted was he to be with so much gold that he did not realise how the time was flying, and when at last he decided to go, he found to his horror that he had forgotten the magic words that would open the door. Sesame is kind of grain, and all Cassim could think of was oats and barley. “Open Barley!” he kept crying, but. of course, nothing happened, and then he heard the robbers outside the cave.

waited anxiously for his return. But when night icii end he had not returned she became very much afraid, and hurried round to Ali Baba to see if he could help her. Ali Baba did his best to comfort her and told her to come round in the morning if Cassim had not returned. Cassim did not come back, and next morning his wife was in a great state of terror. Ali Baba, who was a very kind hearted fellow, forgot all about Ills brother’s greed and bad behaviour, and, telling her not to worry, he immediately set off for the cave to pee what had happened.

no sign of the robbers. ... . . c - • Sesame!" and then he received a frightful shock, .or Ln front of l-.-m was h’s I brother’s body. Unable to open the door, Cassim had remained imprisoned in the cave until the robbers arrived, ami in their rage they had killed him. Poor Ali Baba was filled with horror at b‘s brother’s sad end and, although he realised that if he took him away the robbers would know that someone else held the secret oi their biding place, he placed the body on his asses and hurried home as quickly as he could go. ‘‘lf Cassim had not been so greedy, this would not have happened,” said Richard.