Page:Fairy tales from the Arabian nights.djvu/426

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398
FAIRY TALES FROM

have time, that I may have the satisfaction of seeing where my good brother lived so long, and ended his days.'

As soon as the African magician left his newly-adopted nephew, Aladdin ran to his mother, overjoyed at the money his uncle had given him. 'Mother,' said he, 'have I an uncle?'

'No, child,' replied his mother, 'you have no uncle on your father's side, or mine.'

'I have just now come,' answered Aladdin, 'from a man who says he is my uncle on my father's side, assuring me that he is his brother. He cried and kissed me when I told him my father was dead; and to show you that what I tell you is the truth,' added he, pulling out the money, 'see what he has given me; he charged me to give his love to you, and to tell you, if he has any time to-morrow, he will come and pay you a visit, that he may see the house my father lived and died in.'

'Indeed, child,' replied his mother, 'your father had a brother, but he has been dead a long time, and I never heard of another.'

The mother and son talked no more then of the African magician; but the next day Aladdin's uncle found him playing in another part of the town with other children, and embracing him as before, put two pieces of gold into his hand, and said to him, 'Carry this, child, to your mother, and tell her that I will come and see her to-night, and bid her get us something for supper; but first show me the house where you live.'

After Aladdin had showed the African magician the house, he carried the two pieces of gold to his mother, and when he had told her of his uncle's intention, she went out and bought provisions. She spent the whole day in preparing the supper; and at night, when it was ready, she said to Aladdin, 'Perhaps your uncle knows not how to find our house; go and see, and bring him if you meet with him.'

Though Aladdin had showed the magician the house, he was very ready to go. when somebody knocked at the door, which Aladdin immediately opened; and the magician came in loaded with wine, and all sorts of fruit, which he had brought for dessert.

After the African magician had given what he brought into Aladdin's hands, he saluted his mother, and desired her to show