Long ago, long ago, there lived a poor tailor named Mustapha in a big city of China. He was an honest and hard-working man. So was his wife, but his son, Aladdin, was quite different. He was the idlest boy of the locality.

He roamed here and there wasting his time playing in the streets. Mustapha tried many times to teach his son his own profession, but Aladdin refused. The old man died and yet Aladdin did not leave his bad habits. His mother worked hard and gave him food and other necessities of live. Aladdin enjoyed living in his own idle way.

One day an old magician came to the city. He saw Aladdin playing with boys in the street. He gathered information about Aladdin from one of the idle boys.

The magician came to Aladdin and said, `My dear nephew! Take these gold coins to your mother and tell her that I want to see the house where my brother lived and died.’

`But my mother told me that my father had no brother or sister. He was alone,’ said Aladdin.

`Take these twenty coins, too,’ said the magician, `and bid your mother prepare dinner for us. I shall come at night and tell you everything.’

Aladdin’s mother was surprised when she came to know about her husband’s brother. She, however, prepared diner for the guest and waited for him.

At night the magician came to Aladdin’s house.

`My unfortunate sister –in-law’ said the magician, `I left for Africa before my brother married you. I want to help Aladdin.’

The poor woman was delighted at the generous offer. After dinner, the magician left them, promising to come the next evening.

The magician bought new clothes and shoes for Aladdin. He introduced Aladdin to the rich merchants of the city.

One day Aladdin accompanied his uncle o a picnic. They visited the beautiful gardens outside the city. Aladdin was so attentive to his uncle’s talk that he did not realize that he had left the city and reached a thick forest.

`Collect as many twigs as you can,’. The magician said. `I am going to light a bi fire.’

They gathered a big heap of grass and wood. The magician kindled a fire and threw some herbs on the fire.

He chanted some words and soon the earth started shaking. A big crack appeared in the earth. Aladdin saw a square rock with a ring attached to it.

`Aladdin,’ said the magician, `lift that ring and the rock will open like a door for you’.

`It seems to be very heavy,’ said Aladdin, `Moreover, I am afraid. What do you want, uncle?’

`I am not your uncle but a great magician from Africa. Obey my orders and I will make you rich.’

`What are your orders?’ asked Aladdin.

`As you lift this stone, you will find stairs leading down to a big hall. There are many chests, full of gold and silver in the hall. But don’t touch them and walk across the hall on to an open terrace. Don’t touch the walls of the hall even with your clothes; otherwise you lose your life. There is a lamp in the corner of the terrace. Bring that lamp to me’.

Aladdin pulled at the metal ring and the stone moved aside, showing him a flight of stairs going inside the earth.

Aladdin descended the stairs and found himself in a large hall. It was so bright inside that his eyes dazzled. He saw many chests, one upon the other. He carefully walked and reached onto the terrace. There he saw a rusty lamp burning in a niche. He picked it up and returned through the hall with utmost precaution, and soon arrived at the mouth of the cave, where the magician waited for him with great impatience.

As soon as Aladdin saw him, he cried out, `kindly lend me your hand to help me out.’

`Give me the lamp first,’ said the magician. `It will be troublesome to you’.

`indeed,’ replied the Aladdin,’ but I cannot now. I will give it to you as soon as I am out of the cave.’

The magician was determined to have the lamp first. Aladdin refused to hand over the lamp o him till he was out of the cave. The magician, provoked by Aladdin’s refusal, flew into a passion and with his magic power covered the lid of the cave, leaving Aladdin in the dark.

Aladdin was tracing his way down the dark step when the ring that the magician had given him earlier rubbed against the wall. Immediately a genie of frightful aspect appeared and said, `Give me order, my master! I am ready to serve you; I serve him who possesses this ring.’

`Deliver me from this cave,’ Aladdin ordered him with great hesitation. He had o sooner spoken these words than he found himself in front of his house.

Aladdin’s mother was pleased to see her son safe.

One day Aladdin’s mother told him that all the provisions at home were exhausted and there was nothing to cook. Aladdin decided to sell the rusty lamp to get something from the baker’s shop. His other started cleaning the lamp with sand. As soon as she rubbed the lamp, a huge genie appeared in front of her. She fainted at the sight. But Aladdin heard him saying. `I am ready to obey your order. I am the slave of all those who have the lamp in their hands.’

Aladdin picked up the lamp and ordered, `We are hungry. Bring dinner for us.’

No sooner Aladdin had said these words than the genie brought a huge silver tray full of delicio0us food. Keeping the tray in front of Aladdin, the genie disappeared again.

One day Aladdin happened to have a glimpse of princess Badra, the daughter of the Sultan of the city. He fell in love with the beautiful princess and wanted to marry her.

Aladdin requested his mother to carry some precious stones to the Sultan as gifts. His mother offered the stones to the Sultan. The Sultan was pleased to see the stones. He agreed to marry Princess Badra to Aladdin after three months.

The genie built a huge palace for Aladdin. It was full of gold, pearls and diamond. Aladdin married Princess Badra and took her in the palace.

They started living a happy and joyful life.

When the magician came to know the riches of Aladdin, he came to Aladdin’s city disguised as a merchant who exchanged new lamps with old ones.

Princess Badra gave the rusty lamp to the magician and got a new lamp in exchange. Aladdin found that his palace was disappeared. Actually, the genie of the lamp had removed the palace to Africa as the magician had ordered him.

Aladdin was very dejected. He ordered the genie of the ring to take him Africa. He killed the old magician and ordered the genie to bring the palace to its original site.

Aladdin, his wife and mother were now very happy. Soon the Sultan died, leaving his kingdom to Aladdin. Aladdin proved a good and kind to his subjects.