'I am just now come,' said Aladdin, 'from a man who says he is my uncle, and my father's brother. 'No, child,' replied his mother, 'you have no uncle by your father's side or mine.' Give my love to her, and tell her that I will visit her to-morrow, that I may see where my good brother lived so long, and ended his days.'Īladdin ran to his mother, overjoyed at the money his uncle had given him. Then he gave Aladdin a handful of small money, saying, 'Go, my son, to your mother. I knew you at first sight, you are so like him.' 'Yes, sir,' answered the boy, 'but he has been dead a long time.'Īt these words the African magician threw his arms about Aladdin's neck, and kissed him several times, with tears in his eyes, saying, 'I am your uncle. When he had learned all he desired to know, he went up to him, and taking him aside from his comrades, said, 'Child, was not your father called Mustapha the tailor?'

The African magician, observing in Aladdin's countenance something which assured him that he was a fit boy for his purpose, inquired his name and history of his companions. This stranger was a sorcerer, known as the African magician, as he had been but two days arrived from Africa, his native country. As he was one day playing in the street with his evil associates, according to custom, a stranger passing by stood to observe him. This course he followed till he was fifteen years old, without giving his mind to any useful pursuit, or the least reflection on what would become of him. He was so much troubled about him, that he fell sick and died in a few months.Īladdin, who was now no longer restrained by the fear of a father, gave himself over entirely to his idle habits, and was never out of the streets from his companions. Mustapha chastised him, but Aladdin was incorrigible, and his father, to his great grief, was forced to abandon him to his idleness. When he was old enough to learn a trade his father took him into his own shop, and taught him how to use his needle but all his father's endeavors to keep him to his work were vain, for no sooner was his back turned than the boy was gone for that day. He was disobedient to his father and mother, and would go out early in the morning and stay out all day, playing in the streets and public places with idle children of his own age. His son, who was called Aladdin, was a very careless and idle fellow.

He could hardly, by his daily labor, maintain himself and his family, which consisted only of his wife and a son. In one of the large and rich cities of China there once lived a tailor named Mustapha.

Aladdin rubbing lamp