es shining.

"Alas!--yes," replied Aladdin sadly; and Everychild was surprised that
Aladdin could speak sadly. But Aladdin said no more about the lamp
just then. He turned his eyes, which seemed a bit askew, upon
Everychild. "You were marching bravely as you came along," he said.
"I was watching you. And I thought to myself, 'How can any one walk
bravely along a road like this?'"

For an instant Everychild's heart was troubled. "Isn't it a good road
to walk on?" he asked.

Aladdin's reply was: "It is called The Road of Troubled Children."

Everychild thought a moment. That was a strange name, certainly. "It
seems a little lonely," he ventured, thinking that perhaps Aladdin
would explain why he did not like the road.

"It is lonely," said Aladdin; "yet all children walk here sometimes.
You see, it is a very long road, so that many may walk on it without
encountering one another."

Neither spoke for a moment, and there was no sound save the wind in the
trees.

Then Aladdin said, "When you have walked here a little longer perhaps
you will not walk so bravely." There was an obscure smile on his lips
as he said this.

But Everychild replied quickly, "Oh, yes, I shall. You see, I shall
remember my friends."

"Your friends?" asked Aladdin.

"Father Time, for one. I wish you could have seen how he took my part!"

Aladdin nodded slowly. "I am hoping he will be a friend to me some
day," he said.

"And then there is the Masked Lady," continued Everychild.

"The Masked Lady?" repeated Aladdin in a puzzled tone.

"She lent me her sword."

But Aladdin mused darkly until his eyes rested upon his lamp. "I'd
rather persons didn't wear masks--of any sort," he said. "Sometimes
they are dangerous enemies."

He seemed so troubled as he said this that Everychild asked him, "But
you, Aladdin--why are you making a journey on the Road of Troubled
Children?"

"I?" replied Aladdin in surprise. "Why, because I am the most troubled
child of all!"

Everychild could scarcely believe this. "And yet," he said, "with your
wonderful lamp you have only to wish for things, and they are yours!"

Aladdin made ready to tell his story. He adjusted himself more
comfortably on the Oriental rug, and at last he sighed deeply. "The
child who has everything is never happy," he said.

Everychild simply could not believe this; and Aladdin read the
disbelief in his eyes.

"It is true," he said. "Having everything you wish