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Title: Aladdin and The Wonderful Lamp

Date of first publication: unknown (1855-1860)

Author: Anonymous

Date first posted: April 5 2013

Date last updated: April 5 2013

Faded Page eBook #20130406

This eBook was produced by: David Edwards, Ronald Tolkien & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net

(This project has been created using images provided by the courtesy of the Elizabeth Nesbitt Room, Information Sciences Library, University of Pittsburgh.)

[Pg 1]

PRICE 2d.]         ILLUSTRATED.           [No.

GOODE'S
JUVENILE
TALES

THE HISTORY OF
ALADDIN
AND HIS
WONDERFUL
LAMP.

LONDON:
T. GOODE, 30, AYLESBURY STREET.

[Pg 2]

ALADDIN

AND THE

WONDERFUL

LAMP

LONDON:—T. GOODE, 30, AYLESBURY STREET.

CLERKENWELL.

[Pg 3]

ALADDIN

AND THE

WONDERFUL LAMP.

Finding the Lamp.

In a low street adjoining the City of Pekin, in China, resided a poor tailor, who had a thoughtless lazy son called Aladdin; now this boy would not learn his father's trade, but played all day in the street with any blackguards that would join him.

After his father's death, Aladdin added to his mother's grief by his bad conduct, compelling her to work early and late to get a scanty living for them; her maternal love causing her to hope for his improvement as he grew older.

One day, as Aladdin was playing amongst a crowd, a stranger, magnificently dressed, tapped him on the shoulder, saying, "My brave lad, art thou not the only son of good Mustapha, the clever tailor?"

"Yes sir, I am," said Aladdin, "the same you take me for; but my dear father is dead, and sleeps with his ancestors." "This indeed" said the stranger, "is most afflicting tidings to me, know Aladdin, that I am thy late father's only brother, and my success in foreign countries has enabled me to acquire a large fortune; with which I expected to be very happy with my brother, and make him easy in his circumstances; but I am doomed to find that poor Mustapha is no longer in this world." Aladdin, who never heard of any brother his late father had, stood gazing at him with amazement; but the stranger gave the boy some pieces of gold, and ordered him to tell his mother to provide something nice for supper, as he meant to visit his beloved sister-in-law that very evening. Aladdin promised to obey his uncle; and they separated, after the former had given his address.

Now this stranger was no other than an African magician, who had need of the assistance of an ignorant person; he had no sooner beheld Aladdin, than he saw he was an idle boy, who was very easy to be made a tool of.

Aladdin hastened home to his poor mother with the good news, who was greatly surprised, as she had never heard of any brother but one who had been dead many years past; but yet she did not doubt the word of a person who had behaved so generously; so she put her house in order, and bought some excellent provisions, which she was preparing in her best manner, when the supposed brother-in-law entered, followed by a porter, carrying a load of choice wine and fruit for the desert. He most kindly saluted his sister-in-law, and[Pg 4] said many affectionate things to her concerning her late husband.

The Genius bringing the Jewels.

After supper he said to Selima, "My dearest sister-in-law, widow of my beloved Mustapha, it grieveth me to see the appearance of so much poverty about you; I hope this youth here, whom I have the pleasure to call nephew, does his duty by you; it is time he should supply you with many little comforts, in return for your rearing him." At these words Aladdin hung down his head and felt quite ashamed of his own idle conduct.

His mother then said it is a sad grief to me to tell you that Aladdin, now in his fifteenth year, minds nothing in the world but play with the boys in the street.

"This is a sad account indeed, nephew," said the Magician, turning to Aladdin; "but you are young, and it is never too late to amend." He then caressed Aladdin, and gave him a very beautiful ring. By these artifices he led him some distance out of the town, where he collected some dry sticks, and made a fire, into which he cast some perfume, and pronounced some magical words. The earth immediately opened; and discovered a stone, with a ring. The stone being removed there appeared a cave, into which he bade him descend; and told him at the bottom there was a garden, planted with trees, bearing the most delicate fruits: "Across that garden," said he, "you will perceive a terrace, and in it a niche, which contains a lighted lamp. Take down the lamp, put it out, and bring it to me."

Aladdin jumped into the cavern, found the garden, took down the lamp, and as he returned, he stopped to admire the fine party-colored fruits with which the trees were loaded. Although he imagined they were coloured glass, he was so pleased with them that he filled his pockets and then returned to the entrance of the cavern, and said, "Uncle, lend me your hand, to assist me in getting up."

"Give me the lamp first," said the magician. Aladdin replied, "I cannot uncle, until I am out of the cave."

The magician finding he could not get the lamp, became enraged, returned the stone to its former place, and thus buried Aladdin. The magician had discovered that if he could become possessed of this wonderful lamp, it would render him greater than any prince; but he must receive it from the hands of some other person.

When Aladdin found that he was immured alive in this cavern, clasping his hands in despair he rubbed the magic ring which had been given him; immediately a gigantic genius appeared, and said, "What wouldest thou?" Aladdin said, "Whoever thou art, deliver me from this place." He had no sooner spoken, than he found himself at the place where he had left the magician. Aladdin returned to his mother, showed her the lamp, and said, "Mother, we will sell this lamp, and buy food; but I'll clean it first, to fetch a better price;" so saying, he began to rub it with sand and water. Immediately an awful genius appeared, and said, "What wouldest thou? I am ready to obey thee as the slave of all who[Pg 5] posses the lamp in thy hand." Aladdin said, "I hunger, bring me food." The genius appeared instantly with some delicate viands on silver plates.

Aladdin's Procession to the Sultan.

One day Aladdin was so struck with the beauty of the princess Balrouboudour, that he requested his mother to go to the sultan, and ask for her in marriage; bringing her jewels of inestimable value, to be presented to him.

His mother set off for the palace, and having made the request, presented them to the sultan, who said, "If at the expiration of three months from this day, your son will send me forty vases filled with similar jewels, I will consent that he shall become my son-in-law." Aladdin's mother returned home, and told him what the sultan said; Aladdin rubbed the lamp, the genius appeared, and heard what the sultan required. At the appointed time, he brought the vessels filled with jewels. Aladdin's mother being attired in a superb robe, set out with them to the palace, on a palaquin. When the sultan beheld the forty vases, he said, "Go tell thy son I wait to receive him, that he may espouse the princess my daughter."

Aladdin in ecstacies, retired to his chamber, and summoning the genius, commanded him instantly to prepare a magnificent garment, and also a horse, with the most costly trappings; let there be a splendid retinue of slaves, attired in the most expensive habiliments; but above all, bring ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses. The words were scarcely uttered before his commands were obeyed: Aladdin gave six of the purses among the people, as they proceeded.

When he arrived at the palace, he was ushered into the presence of the sultan, who was amazed at the splendour of his habit. A sumptuous entertainment was ordered and also the marriage contract provided; when Aladdin said, "Sire, I beg your permission to defer my marriage until I have built a palace suitable to the dignity of the princess; and entreat you, to grant me a spot of ground near your own." "Son," said the sultan, "take what ground you think proper." Aladdin summoned the genius, and bade him to build a palace near the sultan's, the walls of which should be formed of gold, and silver, enriched with diamonds and emeralds; with a beautiful garden, an immense treasure of gold and silver coin, and stables full of the finest horses, with suitable attendants.

By dawn of the ensuing morning the genius said, "Sir your palace is finished." When the sultan rose he was greatly surprised, and his grand vizier said it must be done by enchantment. In the evening the princess, attended by the sultan and his retinue, arrived. Aladdin[Pg 6] conducted them to a splendid saloon, where a magnificent entertainment had been provided, and a band of the most exquisite performers, gave a concert during the whole of the repast.

Exchanging the Lamp.

Death of the Magician.

The magician by the power of his art, soon knew of Aladdin's good fortune; and that the lamp, which he determined to obtain, was kept in the palace; he also learned that Aladdin was gone on a hunting excursion for[Pg 7] about eight days. He then went to a lamp maker and bought some copper lamps, which he put into a basket, and proceeded towards Aladdin's palace, crying out "Who'll change old lamps for new ones?" He repeated this so often, that the princess sent one of her slaves to know what he cried. On her return she repeated his words, and added, "There is an old lamp upon the cornice, if the princess pleases, she may try if this foolish man will give a new one for it." The princess, who knew not its virtues, bade a slave take it and exchange it. The magician, seeing that this was the lamp he wanted, snatched it from the slave, bidding him to please himself with any of the lamps; then rubbing the lamp, he commanded the genius to convey him, together with the palace and all its inhabitants to a place in Africa. The next morning the sultan went as usual, to a window to admire Aladdin's palace; but to his astonishment and indignation, it was gone. Sending directly for the grand vizier, he ordered him to send a detachment of guards to seize Aladdin, who was soon taken and brought in chains before the sultan, who ordered his head to be instantly cut off. The populace, with whom Aladdin was a prodigious favorite, upon hearing this, forced the guard, and were scaling the walls, when the sultan pardoned Aladdin. He now said, "Tell me where is my daughter, and what has become of the palace." "I beg your majesty," said Aladdin, "to allow me forty days to make my inquiries," which was granted.

Aladdin rambled about till he came to a river's side; the bank was steep and slippery, so that he stumbled. In falling, he rubbed his ring and the genius instantly appeared. Aladdin commanded him to convey him directly to his palace, on arriving at which, the princess joyfully threw up the window. Aladdin inquired what had become of the old lamp he had left upon the cornice. The princess replied, that the magician had it in his bosom, and that he used all his endeavours to persuade her to break her faith to Aladdin. Aladdin told the princess to invite the magician to sup with her, and to put into his wine a powder, and also to give orders for himself being privately admitted. The magician came, the princess presented him with the choicest things on the table, and said to him, "If you please we will drink each other's health." She presented the cup, into which she had put the powder, which he drank off, and fell back lifeless; then Aladdin entered, and seizing the lamp, commanded the genius to convey the palace to its former site. After a pleasant journey back, Aladdin, accompanied by the princess, hastened to the sultan, whose joy was excessive at this happy termination of the affair. Within a short time afterwards the sultan dying, Aladdin was, at the unanimous wish of the people, raised to the throne.

[Pg 8]

[The end of Aladdin and The Wonderful Lamp by Anonymous]