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12. You may guess how joyful the queen was at hearing this; and when, soon after, the little man entered and said, "Queen, what is my name?" she asked him mischievously, "Is your name Hans?"

"No."

"Is your name Carl?"

"No."

"Are you not sometimes called Rumpelstiltskin?" 13. "A witch has told you that—a witch has told you!" shrieked the poor little man, and stamped so furiously with his right foot that it sunk into the earth, and he could not draw it out again. Then he seized his left foot with both hands with such violence, that his right foot came off, and he hopped away howling.

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43. - ALADDIN, OR THE WONDERFUL LAMP.

PART I.

suf'fer, permit, allow.

sumpt'ū-ous, costly, splendid.
tal'is-man, a charm of magic power.

ma-gi'cian [-jish'an], one skilled in trans-par'ent, clear like glass.

cof'fers, chests for valuables.

in-duce', prevail on, persuade.

in-dulged', gave up to.

magic, a sorcerer.

main-tain', support.

niche [nich], recess in a wall. sprightly, gay, animated.

tur-quois'es [-koiz'ez], bluish precious stones,

wil'y, sly, crafty.

wiz'ard, conjurer, magician.

1. IN the capital of China there once lived a tailor named Mustapha. This Mustapha was very poor, and, work as hard as he might, could hardly maintain himself, his wife, and their only son, whose name was Aladdin. The boy, though sprightly and intelligent, was a careless and idle fellow, and as he grew up his laziness increased. He was continually loitering in the streets, nor could Mustapha by any means prevail on him to make himself useful. This idle disposition of the boy troubled Mustapha so much that his grief brought on a fit of sickness which cost him his life.

2. Aladdin, being no longer restrained by his father, indulged his indolence to the utmost, and was not ashamed, though fifteen years old, to be supported by his mother's labor. One day as he was amusing himself with his companions, a stranger, passing by, stopped to observe him. This stranger was an African magician. After looking at the youth for some time very earnestly, he inquired among his playmates who the lad was, and presently learned his little history. The

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wily African then went up to him, and asked him if his father was not called Mustapha the tailor? He was so called," replied the boy, "but he has been dead for some time." At this account the magician pretended to burst into tears, and, embracing Aladdin, told him he was his father's brother.

3. The day following, the magician took Aladdin out with him, and gave him money and handsome clothes. Then he conducted him to the gardens belonging to the sumptuous palaces of the nobility, which were situated in the suburbs of the city. Aladdin, having never seen any thing so elegant, was highly delighted: so his false uncle led him by degrees into the country.

4. At length they came to a valley which separated two mountains of considerable height. The wizard told Aladdin he would show him some very wonderful things. He directed him to gather a parcel of dry sticks and kindle a fire; which being done, the African cast a perfume into it, and pronounced certain magical words; immediately a great smoke arose, after which the earth trembled a little, and, opening, revealed a stone about half a yard square.

5. "There is hidden," said the magician, "under that stone an immense treasure, which you may possess if you carefully observe my instructions." Then putting a ring on Aladdin's finger, the African bade him pronounce the name of his father and grandfather, and raise up the stone. Aladdin did as he was directed; and, in spite of its immense size, he removed the stone with great ease, and discovered a hole several feet deep, and steps to descend lower.

6. "Observe," said the wizard, "what I am going to

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say to you. Not only the possession of the treasure, but your life itself, will depend on your careful attention.

Though I have opened this cave, I am forbidden to enter it: that honor is permitted only to you. Go down boldly, then. You will find at the bottom of these steps three great halls, in each of which you will see a large number of coffers full of gold and silver. Be sure you do not meddle with them; nor must you suffer even your garments to touch the walls. If you do, you will instantly perish. When you have passed through these halls, you will come to a garden. Here you will be perfectly safe, and may handle any thing you see. At the farther end of it you will find a lamp, burning in a niche. Take that lamp down, throw away the wick, pour out the oil, and put the lamp in your bosom to bring to me."

7. Aladdin obeyed exactly. He went through the halls with as much caution as the fear of death could inspire. He crossed the garden, secured the lamp, put it in his bosom, and began calmly to look about him. He found that the trees were loaded with fruits of many colors, transparent, white, red, green, blue, purple, and yellow. The transparent were diamonds; the white, pearls; the red, rubies; the green, emeralds; the blue, turquoises; the purple, amethysts; and the yellow, sapphires. All these fruits were large, and very beautiful.

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8. Aladdin, though he knew nothing of their value, was much pleased with them; and as he had been told that he might safely meddle with any thing in the garden, he filled his pockets with some of each sort, and even crammed as many as he could into his bosom. He then returned through the halls as cautiously as he came; and having ascended the steps, he called out to

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