Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 3, 2025
For, upon my word of honor, betwixt Ali the fagot-maker and Abdallah the Emperor of the World there was not a pin to choose, except in degree. Old Ali Baba's pipe had nearly gone out, and he fell a puffing at it until the spark grew to life again, and until great clouds of smoke rolled out around his head and up through the rafters above.
Thou mayest go, Genie, and it will be long ere I will have to call thee again," and thereupon the Genie was gone like a flash. The captain of Abdallah's troop a bearded warrior clad in a superb suit of armor rode up to the fagot-maker, and, leaping from his horse and bowing before him so that his forehead touched the dust, said, "Whither shall we ride, my lord?"
So he became the greatest emperor in all the world; kings and princes kneeled before him, and he, Abdallah, the fagot-maker, looking about him, could say: "No one in all the world is so great as I!" Could he desire anything more? Yes; he did! He desired to be rid of the Genie!
Once upon a time there was a fagot-maker and his wife, who had seven children, all boys. The eldest was but ten years old, and the youngest only seven. They were very poor, and their seven children were a great source of trouble to them because not one of them was able to earn his bread.
"I know not," said he, "about the demon, but there was one part that I liked much, and that was about the treasures of silver and gold and the palace that the Genie built and all the fine things that the poor fagot-maker enjoyed." Then he who had once carried the magic purse in his pocket fell a clattering with the bottom of his quart cup upon the table. "Hey!
Then suddenly he bethought himself, "What a silly spectacle shall I cut in the town with no money in my purse and with such fine clothes upon my back." Once more the Genie was summoned. "I should like," said the fagot-maker, "to have a box full of money." The Genie stretched out his hand, and in it was a casket of mother-of-pearl inlaid with gold and full of money.
What happened inside the cavern the fagot-maker could neither see nor hear, but minute after minute passed while he sat as in a maze at all that had happened. Then presently he heard a deep thundering voice and a voice as of one of the old men in answer.
So, with those in the streets scrambling and fighting for the money and shouting and cheering, and others gazing down at the spectacle from the windows and house-tops, the fagot-maker and his troop rode slowly along through the town.
For no sooner had he lifted the lid than out leaped a great hideous Genie, as black as a coal, with one fiery-red eye in the middle of his forehead that glared and rolled most horribly, and with his hands and feet set with claws, sharp and hooked like the talons of a hawk. Poor Abdallah the fagot-maker lay upon his back staring at the monster with a face as white as wax.
It was in vain that the elder begged and implored the younger abided by what he had said. Then Ali began to put on a threatening front. "You will not let me have the money?" he said. "No, I will not." "You will not?" "No!" "Then you shall!" cried Ali; and, so saying, caught the younger fagot-maker by the throat, and began shaking him and shouting, "Help! Help! I am robbed! I am robbed!"
Word Of The Day
Others Looking