through the principal streets of the city. First he called at a tailor's, and bought some new garments for Aladdin, whereat that young gentleman rejoiced greatly; and in the afternoon he took him to the khan or inn where he lodged, and introduced him to several acquaintances as "his dear nephew Aladdin."

In the evening the magician took him to his mother,

who was overjoyed that her boy, whom she loved in spite of his faults, should have met with such a friend; and he promised to take Aladdin out for a longer walk the next day.

He came the next morning as promised, and walked with the boy out at one of the city gates. He managed to amuse him with pleasant talk, so that Aladdin did not notice how far they went, and he was quite surprised when his uncle at last stopped at the foot of a ridge of mountains.

Between two mountains of equal size there was a little valley. Here the magician turned to Aladdin, and said, "I will show you a thing which will greatly astonish you. But while I strike a light, you go and gather some dry sticks." Aladdin obeyed, and the magician first kindled a fire, then when the fire flickered up high from the sticks that had been kindled, he caused a thick and dense smoke to arise from the flame; and at some mysterious words pronounced by the magician, which Aladdin could not in the least comprehend, this smoke seemed to thicken. Then the earth appeared to tremble slightly, as the magician bent down and

threw a strong perfume into the blazing heap. He then stretched out his hand and pronounced certain magical words, whereupon the earth opened, and discovered a square stone with a brass ring to lift it up by.

Aladdin was so frightened that he was going to run away; but the magician suddenly seized him, and dealt him a blow that nearly knocked him down. Poor Aladdin was much astonished at this rough treatment; but the magician soon pacified him, and promised him wealth and honour if he would only yield implicit obedience to his commands.

"Take up this stone by the ring fixed in it," said the magician. Aladdin did so. "Go down this flight of steps," continued his uncle: "you will have to pass through four great halls, but you must touch nothing you see there. Then you will have to pass through a garden full of the choicest fruits and flowers. Though you are very strictly forbidden to touch anything you may see in the four great halls, the prohibition does not extend to the fruit in the garden: you may gather a portion of the fruit if its richness should tempt you to do so; but the real object of your mission is to procure me a small lamp which you will find burning in a niche at the end of the garden terrace. This lamp you must take from the position in which you will find it, and bring it to me here. And I must most particularly impress upon your mind the necessity of using the greatest caution and speed, for I attach the utmost importance to the possession of the lamp." Then the magician gave Aladdin a ring he took from his own right hand, and placed on the forefinger of his nephew, telling him at the same time that this ring would be a preservative from all dangers. "Go, my child," he added, "descend without fear; bring the lamp, and we shall be rich for the rest of our lives."

Aladdin did as the magician desired him. He passed down the stairs with the greatest caution : having traversed the halls, which he found as the magician had described, he entered the garden. Here the scene was truly enchanting. Trees of the most varied and beautiful foliage were laden with luscious fruits, beautiful flowers filled the air with fragrant odours, while statues, vases, fountains, and birds of the richest plumage met

the eye in every direction. Aladdin

did not fail to avail himself of the leave he had obtained to gather fruit: he filled his pockets before he gave a thought to the lamp; but having arrived at the end of the terrace, he perceived the lamp in the niche, and taking it down, he threw or the oil it contained, drew out the wick, and placing the lamp in his bosom, hastened back.

Directly the old magician saw

him returning, he thought his object was gained at last, and trembled with eagerness to seize the lamp.

"Give me your

hand, uncle," cried Aladdin, "and help me out of this place." But the magician was wicked and crafty. It was not his design that Aladdin should escape alive to tell the secret of the wonderful lamp to men; when he perceived

Aladdin coming back, he was very anxious to get the lamp into his own possession. "Give me the lamp, nephew," he sharply cried. "First help me out of the cave," answered Aladdin.

"No, no, give me the lamp first," insisted the magician; but Aladin was obstinate, and the magician flew into such a rage that he threw some perfume into the fire, pronounced a few mystic words, and the stone closed over the cave, leaving Aladdin in darkness and utterly alone.

He was naturally in a terrible fright, expecting nothing less than that he should perish miserably in the cave. For two days he remained cooped up there; and on the third day he began to look on death as inevitable. Clasping his hands in anguish, he rubbed a ring the magician had given him. on entering the cave, and instantly a hideous genie of gigantic stature

rose as it were out of the earth. He was so tall that his head touched the vaulted roof, and his face was so terrible to behold that Aladdin could scarcely bear to look upon him. It was through the power of the magic ring that this hideous genie had been summoned; but Aladdin had forgotten the magician's gift, and was amazed when the genie

stood before him.

"What wouldst thou have?" asked the genie. "I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who possess the ring on thy finger-I, and the other slaves of the ring."

For a moment Aladdin was startled by this apparition. Then he exclaimed, "Deliver me from this place as speedily as possible."

The genie disappeared; the earth opened, and Aladdin found himself on the spot where he had parted from the magician, his pretended uncle. He lost no time in making his way home to his mother, who had given him up as lost, and was greatly comforted to behold him once more. After they had vented their joy and abused the wicked magician to their hearts' content, Aladdin began to remember that he had eaten nothing for two days. His mother, who had been too sorrowful to spin, had no money to buy food; so Aladdin suggested they should sell the lamp he had carried in his bosom ever since he took it from the niche in the garden. Finding the lamp somewhat rusty, he began to rub it; instantly a genie, more hideous than the one in the cave, rose before him, and said, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that lamp in their hands--I, and the other slaves of the lamp.”

Aladdin's mother fainted away with fright; but Aladdin, already somewhat accustomed to the appearance of genii, answered boldly, "I am hungry-bring me something to eat." He had seen the genie of the ring in the cavern, and therefore was not, like his mother, frightened at the appearance of the slave of the lamp, however much he might be surprised. Therefore he retained his presence of mind; and seized the lamp, which he held in his hand while he answered for his mother.