Page 8 - Child's own book

A L A D D I N ;

OH,
T H E W 0 N D E 11 F V L L A M P .

I ' a town of Tartarv, there lived n tailor, named Mustaplia,
who was so poor that he could hardly maintain himself, his
wife, and his son Aladdin. When the boy was of proper years
to serve as an apprentice, his father took him into his shop, and
taught him how to work ; but all his father could do was in
vain, £>r Aladdin was incorrigible. His father was therefore
forced to abandon him to his libertinism ; the thoughts of this
brought oitn fit of sickness, of which lie shortly died ; and the
mother, finding that hrr son would not f o ll o w his father's trade,
shut up the shop ; and, with the money she earned by spinning
cotton, thought to support herself and son,
Aladdin continued to give himself up to all kinds of folly;
until one day as lie was playing in tlie street, a stranger, passing
by, stood to observe him. This stranger was a great magician.
Knowing who Aladdin was, and what were his propensities,
he went up to him, and said, “ Child, was not your father called
Mustaplia ? 3nd was he not a tailor? ”-—li Yes, sir,” answered
Aladdin, “ but he has been dead some time,*1 The magician
threw his arms round Aladdin’s neck, and said, “ I am your
uncle, I have been many years abroad ; and now when I have
come with the hope of seeing my brother, 3*011 tell me he
is dead !” The magician caressed Aladdin, and gave him a
very beautiful ring, which he told the youth was of great
value. By these artifices he led Aladdin some distance out of