A Tale from the Arabian Nights

   Aladdin and the Magic Lamp – part 1

     (A tale from the Arabian nights)

   There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin. He was a careless and idle boy who would do nothing but play all day long in the streets with little idle boys like himself. After the death of Aladdin’s father his mother was looked after him. He was so irresponsible that way his mother always shouted at him.
    They were very poor as Aladdin did not like to work at all. One day as he played in the street with his friends, there came to him a strange looking man.
    “I am your uncle son! What is your name?” said the man.
    “Aladdin sir,” replied the boy.
    “Take me home, I have brought rich gifts for all of you. Go to your mother and tell her I am coming." - told the stranger.     
    Aladdin was greatly surprised but the word “gifts” made him happy. On reaching home Aladdin quickly told his mother about the stranger.
    His mother said,"Indeed, son, your father had a brother, but I always thought he was dead."
    “you have never seen me, sister-in-law, for I have been away, wondering for forty years,” informed the stranger. 
    All of them sat down to a hearty meal as the man had brought rich food and wine as gifts.
    “what do you do for a living Aladdin?” asked his uncle. 
    “He is lazy and refuses to work,” said Aladdin’s mother crying bitterly. 
    Aladdin hung his head in shame. “send him with me and I will make a man out of him,” offered the stranger.
    Now, this stranger was no uncle of Aladdin,he was a wicked African magician who wanted to use the good-for-nothing boy for his benefit. Next day Aladdin and the magician set off his journey. They traveled over hills and valleys. Many times Aladdin was afraid and tired but the magician kept him happy with good food.
    He gave Aladdin a beautiful ring to wear. Soon they came to a valley between two mountains. The magician lit a torch and muttered some magical words. Lo and behold! A square stone appeared in he ground. Aladdin was terribly frightened and wished to take to his heels. But the magician held him tightly by the hand.
    “Don’t be afraid boy! Do as I tell you and both of us will be rich, Roll this stone aside and enter. You will find a lamp. Bring it to me.” said the magician.
    Aladdin was surprised to find that the stone rolled aside easily. He found a flight of steps going down. Taking the torch, Aladdin went down. At the bottom he found piles of gold in a corner. He looked around in wonder. Gems hung from branches of a tree. He stuffed his pockets with the gold pieces and precious stones. Then he went further till he came to the end of the cave. There, lay an old lamp in the corner. Aladdin picked it up and walked back to the mouth of the cave. 
    “Hand me the lamp quickly,” ordered the magician. 
    “Help me out first,” replied Aladdin.
    Aladdin was clever and did not trust the magician. When Aladdin refused to hand him the lamp first, the magician got very angry. He closed the mouth of the cave and went away. This magician had read in his magic books about the magic lamp. But he could not get the lamp himself. He had to find someone else to do the job and so, he had found, the good-for-nothing, Aladdin. But now, his plans were ruined.
    For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting.
    Aladdin was extremely afraid. He sat huddled in a corner, crying bitterly. He was very cold and hungry. “Oh mother! How I wish I could reach you!” cried the boy. “I promise to be good and never to make you cry.”

    Aladdin rubbed his hands together to warm himself. Accidentally he rubbed the ring on his finger there was a clap of thunder and lightening. Aladdin looked on in surprise as a fat genie stood before him. 
    “Command, oh master! I am slave of the ring,” said the genie low before the boy.
    At first Aladdin was afraid but soon he collected his wits about him. 
    “Get me out of here and take me home,” ordered Aladdin. In a trice he was home.
    His mother was overjoyed to see her son. Aladdin gave her all the gems and gold pieces he found in the cave. She looked at the dirty old lamp and took up a piece of cloth to clean it. With a clap of thunder and lightening a genie appeared before them.     
    “Command, Oh master! I am the genie of the lamp,” said the genie.    
    “Fetch us some food and wine,” ordered Aladdin as his mother stood spell-bound. At once a feast was laid out on silver plates and wine in gold cups. They feasted heartily. Now their life has changed. They lived comfortably in a grand house and ate good food.
    Aladdin’s two genies served him dutifully. His mother wept no more and had no worries. Her good-for-nothing, lazy son had at least brought her great comfort. All their neighbors envied them greatly for none had such a grand house and clothes nor did they eat so richly.



If you want to read more Folk tales...  Click Here