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"I'm not going to ask you to do much. "Give me the lamp," urged the wizard
Just go down that manhole. I'm much too impatiently. "Hand it over," he began to
big to squeeze through myself. If you do as I shout, thrusting out his arm to grab it, but
ask, you'll have your reward." The stranger Aladdin cautiously drew back.
"Let me out first . . ." Suddenly out shot another genie, in a
cloud of smoke.
"Too bad for you," snapped the stranger,
slamming down the manhole cover, never "You've set me free, after centuries! I
noticing that, as he did so, a ring slid off his was a prisoner in the lamp, waiting to be
finger. A terrified Aladdin was left in pitch freed by someone rubbing it. Now, I'm your
darkness, wondering what the wizard would obedient servant. Tell me your wishes." And
do next. Then he trod on the ring. Aimlessly the genie bowed respectfully, awaiting
putting it on his finger, he twisted it round Aladdin's orders. The boy and his mother
and round. Suddenly the room was flooded gaped wordlessly at this incredible
with a rosy light and a great genie with apparition, then the genie said with a hint of
clasped hands appeared on a cloud. impatience in his voice.
"At your command, sire," said the genie. "I'm here at your command. Tell me
Now astounded, Aladdin could only what you want. Anything you like!" Aladdin
stammer: gulped, and then said:
"I want to go home!" In a flash he was "Bring us . . . bring . . ." His mother not
back in his own home, though the door was having yet begun to cook the dinner, went
tightly shut. on to say: ". . . a lovely big meal."
"How did you get in?" called his mother From that day on, the widow and her son
from the kitchen stove, the minute she set had everything they could wish for: food,
eyes on him. Excitedly, her son told her of clothes and a fine home, for the genie of the
his adventures. lamp granted them everything they asked
him. Aladdin grew into a tall handsome
"Where's the silver coin?" his mother
young man and his mother felt that he ought
asked. Aladdin clapped a hand to his brow.
to find himself a wife, sooner or later.
For all he had brought home was the old oil
lamp "Oh, mother! I'm so sorry. This is all One day, as he left the market, Aladdin
I've got." happened to see the Sultan's daughter
Halima in her sedan chair being carried
"Well, let's hope it works. It's so dirty . .
through the streets. He only caught a fleeting
." and the widow began to rub the lamp.
glimpse of the princess, but it was enough
for him to want to marry her. Aladdin told escort of forty Arab warriors. When he saw
his mother and she quickly said: all this the next day, the Sultan was taken
aback. He never imagined such wealth could
"I'll ask the Sultan for his daughter's
exist. Just as he was about to accept Aladdin
hand. He'll never be able to refuse. Wait and
as his daughter's bridegroom, the envious
see!"
Chamberlain broke in with a question.
And indeed, the Sultan was easily
"Where will they live?" he asked. The
persuaded by a casket full of big diamonds
Sultan pondered for a moment, then
to admit the widow to the palace. However,
allowing greed to get the better of him, he
when he learned why she had come, he told
told Aladdin to build a great, splendid palace
the widow that her son must bring proof of
for Halima. Aladdin went straight home and,
his power and riches. This was mostly the
in what was once a wilderness; the genie
Chamberlain's idea, for he himself was eager
built him a palace. Aladdin and his wife
to marry the beautiful black-eyed Sultan's
lived happily ever after.
daughter.