186 Be The Story of Aladdin ;

 

moments hence; therefore I hope you will give me leave to keep
that, and to wear it always on my finger. Who knows what
dangers you and I may be exposed to, which neither of us can
foresee, and from which it may deliver us?’

As Aladdin’s arguments were just, and had great weight, his
mother had nothing to say against them; but only replied, that
he might do what he pleased, but for her part she would have
nothing to do with genies, but would wash her hands of them,
and never say anything more about them.

By the next day they had eaten all the provisions the genie
had brought; and the next day Aladdin, who could not bear the
thought of hunger, took one of the silver plates under his coat
and went out early to sell it, and addressing himself to a Jew
whom he met in the streets, took him aside, and pulling out the
plate, asked him if he wouid buy it. The cunning Jew took the
plate and examined it, and no sooner found that it was good silver
than he asked Aladdin at how much he valued it. Aladdin, who
knew not the value of it, and never had been used to such traffic,
told him he would trust to his judgment and honour. The Jew
was somewhat taken aback at this plain dealing; and, doubting
whether Aladdin understood the material or the full value of what
he offered him, he took a piece of gold out of his purse and gave
it him, though it was but the sixtieth part of the worth of the
plate. Aladdin took the money very eagerly, ard as soon as he
got it in his pocket, retired with so much haste, that the Jew, not
content with his exorbitant profit, was vexed he had not pene-
trated into Aladdin’s ignorance, and was going to run after him
to get some change out of the piece of gold; but Aladdin ran
so fast, and had got so far, that it would have been impossible to
overtake him.

Before Aladdin went home to his mother, he called at a baker’s,
bought a loaf, changed his money, and went home, and gave the