第93章 The Story Of The Sham Prince, Or The Ambitious Tai

He had hardly finished speaking when one of the cedar trees opened, and a veiled figure all dressed in white stepped from it.

'I know your errand, King Sached,' she said; 'it is an honest one, and I will give you my help.Take these two little boxes and let the two men who claim to be your son choose between them.I know that the real prince will make no mistake.'

She then handed him two little boxes made of ivory set with gold and pearls.On the lid of each (which the king vainly tried to open)was an inscription in diamonds.On one stood the words 'Honour and Glory,' and on the other 'Wealth and Happiness.'

'It would be a hard choice,' thought the king as he rode home.

He lost no time in sending for the queen and for all his court, and when all were assembled he made a sign, and Labakan was led in.

With a proud air he walked up to the throne, and kneeling down, asked:

'What does my lord and father command?'

The king replied: 'My son, doubts have been thrown on your claim to that name.One of these boxes contains the proofs of your birth.

Choose for yourself.No doubt you will choose right.'

He then pointed to the ivory boxes, which were placed on two little tables near the throne.

Labakan rose and looked at the boxes.He thought for some minutes, and then said: 'My honoured father, what can be better than the happiness of being your son, and what nobler than the riches of your love.I choose the box with the words "Wealth and Happiness."'

'We shall see presently if you have chosen the right one.For the present take a seat there beside the Pacha of Medina,' replied the king.

Omar was next led in, looking sad and sorrowful.He threw himself down before the throne and asked what was the king's pleasure.

The king pointed out the two boxes to him, and he rose and went to the tables.He carefully read the two mottoes and said: 'The last few days have shown me how uncertain is happiness and how easily riches vanish away.Should I lose a crown by it I make my choice of "Honour and Glory."'

He laid his hand on the box as he spoke, but the king signed to him to wait, and ordered Labakan to come to the other table and lay his hand on the box he had chosen.

Then the king rose from his throne, and in solemn silence all present rose too, whilst he said: 'Open the boxes, and may Allah show us the truth.'

The boxes were opened with the greatest ease.In the one Omar had chosen lay a little gold crown and sceptre on a velvet cushion.

In Labakan's box was found--a large needle with some thread!

The king told the two young men to bring him their boxes.They did so.He took the crown in his hand, and as he held it, it grew bigger and bigger, till it was as large as a real crown.He placed it on the head of his son Omar, kissed him on the forehead, and placed him on his right hand.Then, turning to Labakan, he said:

'There is an old proverb, "The cobbler sticks to his last." It seems as though you were to stick to your needle.You have not deserved any mercy, but I cannot be harsh on this day.I give you your life, but I advise you to leave this country as fast as you can.'

Full of shame, the unlucky tailor could not answer.He flung himself down before Omar, and with tears in his eyes asked: 'Can you forgive me, prince?'

'Go in peace,' said Omar as he raised him.

'Oh, my true son!' cried the king as he clasped the prince in his arms, whilst all the pachas and emirs shouted, 'Long live Prince Omar!'

In the midst of all the noise and rejoicing Labakan slipped off with his little box under his arm.He went to the stables, saddled his old horse, Murva, and rode out of the gate towards Alexandria.

Nothing but the ivory box with its diamond motto was left to show him that the last few weeks had not been a dream.

When he reached Alexandria he rode up to his old master's door.

When he entered the shop, his master came forward to ask what was his pleasure, but as soon as he saw who it was he called his workmen, and they all fell on Labakan with blows and angry words, till at last he fell, half fainting, on a heap of old clothes.

The master then scolded him soundly about the stolen robe, but in vain Labakan told him he had come to pay for it and offered three times its price.They only fell to beating him again, and at last pushed him out of the house more dead than alive.

He could do nothing but remount his horse and ride to an inn.Here he found a quiet place in which to rest his bruised and battered limbs and to think over his many misfortunes.He fell asleep fully determined to give up trying to be great, but to lead the life of an honest workman.

Next morning he set to work to fulfil his good resolutions.He sold his little box to a jeweller for a good price, bought a house and opened a workshop.Then he hung up a sign with, 'Labakan, Tailor,' over his door, and sat down to mend his own torn clothes with the very needle which had been in the ivory box.

After a while he was called away, and when he went back to his work he found a wonderful thing had happened! The needle was sewing away all by itself and making the neatest little stitches, such as Labakan had never been able to make even at his best.

Certainly even the smallest gift of a kind fairy is of great value, and this one had yet another advantage, for the thread never came to an end, however much the needle sewed.

Labakan soon got plenty of customers.He used to cut out the clothes, make the first stitch with the magic needle, and then leave it to do the rest.Before long the whole town went to him, for his work was both so good and so cheap.The only puzzle was how he could do so much, working all alone, and also why he worked with closed doors.

And so the promise on the ivory box of 'Wealth and Happiness'

came true for him, and when he heard of all the brave doings of Prince Omar, who was the pride and darling of his people and the terror of his enemies, the ex-prince thought to himself, 'After all, Iam better off as a tailor, for "Honour and Glory" are apt to be very dangerous things.'