The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03

nificent gems. but the monarch laugh
 ing, said My good woman, l am not angry with you, nor with your son. This gift is. indeed, a gift fit for king. Come again to my divan; I will confer with you more about your son."
 When the Sultan and the Grand vizier
 were alone his majesty said: Now, what shall do about this Aladdin and his ann
 bitions? Who is he? How does it come
 that he can send to me such rare gifts?' The Grand Vizier made inquiries and the
 next day told the Sultan that Aladdin was
 a worthless. er-do-well youth, whose | father had been tailor. How he had
 come by the gems, and how he now man
 aged to live in such plenty without work
 melody knew. "As to his marrying the
 Princess" said the Grand vizier. that is be of marriageable age and I shall have the honor to l1umbly request the hand of the Princess for him. At any rate, beg that your majesty will grant me three months before you make your decision and in that time I doubt not that my | son will be able to make as bountiful present to the Princess Rose-in- Bloom | as this Aladdin" The Sultan, laughing, said: Very well, my Grand vizier, the three months are yours. And I should like much to have another basin of gems of the like value of those this Aladdin sent me-" When the next morning Alad- din's mother appeared before the divan the Sultan summoned her to the throne and said: My good woman, I cannot permit my daughter to marry for three months. At the end of that time come again"
 The three months passed and again the Sultan saw, standing in his presence. the old woman. Well, what wouldst thou?'' he asked sharply. Sire replied she, q came to ask the fulfilment of your prom ise in regard to my son" My promisen'
 exclaimed the Sultan T made no prom 1 ise. But I will consider the matter. Come
 next audience day" That afternoon he
 said to the Grand vizier: My esteemed and venerable counsellor, I have as yet
 not seen a present from your son-that one you spoke of which was to excel
 Aiaddin's. But this is half jest my worthy friend. l am half pledged te this Alad- din. What would you adviser
 The Grand vizier, thinking to propose
 an impossible thing. said: Tell him thai if he really wishes to marry the Princess
 he must send you forty golden trays filled
 with gems of equal value to those which
 he first sent you. These trays must bs
 carried by forty black slaves led by ar equal number of young and handsome
 white slaves, all dressed magnihcently
 This must be done in order to prove thai he will be able to support the Princess in the style in which she has been accus-
 toned to live That is a good joke,
 said the Sultan, but we will try itss (
 wise vizier. It seems. way out of ths
 difficulty. Sultans-unlike grand viziers-
 must keep their promises, even when thes
 are merely implied. And if Aladdin car
 do this impossible thing you ask he shal
 have my daughter. Who knows-perhapl
 he can we shall see!'
 When at the next audience day the olt } woman appeared before the divan. thu Sultan summoned her to him and told he
 gravely of the conditions upon which h. , would let his daughter marry her son. : and all the court thought it a good joke l In fact, as Aladdins mother went he } homeward way. she began to think 1t ' joke, too, and laughed as she told he l son of the conditions. T believe you vii have to wait long for your bride.'' sai, | she sarcastically In fact she. did not de sire to see the boy married-like mos , mothers, she thought him better off sin gle
 [ "Oh not so very long," replied Alad din, and, going to his room. he rubbe , the lamp and summoned the genie. 1 It was soon all arranged, and the mex morning gorgeous procession wended 1t t way to the palace of the Sultan. Tn , slaves of the lamp had provided every Z thing that Aladdin had ordered. and tn whole city turned out to witness the mag nifcence of the pageant. There were til t forty. white slaves and the forty blac slaves, the golden dishes carried by tn } latter hesped high with gems At tn head of the procession went Aladdin } mother. accompanied by slaves and al :, tendants. which her son had eummone , for her She herself was clad in rega ! attirs;s s,prnSidea ny.. :fllx gsnis non n