"What is this wonderful palace you speak of?" he asked.

"Have you not heard of Prince Aladdin's palace," was the reply," the greatest wonder in the world? I will direct you to it, if you have a mind to see it."

The magician thanked him who spoke, and having seen the palace, knew that it had been raised by the Genius of the Lamp. He determined to get the lamp and to make Aladdin suffer.

Aladdin had gone hunting for eight days, which gave the magician plenty of time to work his evil plan. He bought a dozen copper lamps, put them into a basket, and went to the palace, crying, "New lamps for old!" He was followed by a laughing crowd.

The Princess sent a slave to find out what the noise was about.

"Madam," said the slave on her return, "they cannot help laughing to see an old fool offering to exchange fine new lamps for old

ones."

Another slave, hearing this, said: "There is an old lamp here which he can have."

The story was so interesting that the evening came to an end all too soon, and Sylvia's brother was waiting.

She again thanked Grandma for a pleasant evening. "Good-nights" were again said, and in a few minutes Sylvia was home, and Ben, Belle, and May were up-stairs.

TO THE PUPILS: Suppose you had been invited to a friend's house, as was Sylvia. Tell what you would say to the friend as you were leaving for home.

TO THE TEACHER:

both oral and written.

This exercise should be

NINETY-THIRD EVENING

The youngsters were out of breath when they came into the room.

"Grandma, we have been having such fun

6

playing I spy,' " said May, fanning herself with a newspaper which she picked up from the table.

"And Ben could find us every time, Grandma," said Belle.

"Next time we'll take Aladdin's lamp with us, Belle," said May. "We can rub it and wish that Ben can't find us.'

"All you have to do," said Grandma, "is to find the lamp. Have you never heard Lowell's poem Aladdin'?"

6

"No, Grandma," was the reply.

"Here it is: "

ALADDIN

When I was a beggarly boy,

And lived in a cellar damp,

I had not a friend nor a toy,
But I had Aladdin's lamp;
When I could not sleep for the cold,
I had fire enough in my brain,
And builded, with roofs of gold,
My beautiful castles in Spain!

Since then I have toiled day and night,
I have money and power good store,
But I'd give all my lamps of silver bright
For the one that is mine no more;
Take, Fortune, whatever you choose,
You gave, and may snatch again;
I have nothing 't would pain me to lose,
For I own no more castles in Spain!

-James Russell Lowell,

Courtesy of Houghton, Mifflin & Co.

"Now," said Grandma, as she finished, "let me go on with my story:

But this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there. The Princess, not knowing its value, laughingly bade the slave take it and

get a new one. She went to the magician and said: "Give me a new lamp for this." He