im
off as if to execution.

It is impossible to express how much the Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid
admired the wisdom and acuteness of the boy, who had pronounced so
just a sentence on the very case which was to be pleaded before him on
the morrow. Taking his eyes from the crevice, he rose, and asked the
grand vizier, who had been attending to all that passed, if he had
heard the sentence given by the boy, and what he thought of it.
"Commander of the Faithful," replied Giafar, "I am astonished at the
wisdom evinced by this boy at so early an age."

"But," resumed the caliph, "do you know that to-morrow I am to give my
decision on this very affair, and that the true Ali Cogia has this
morning presented a petition to me on the subject?"

"So I understand from your majesty," replied the grand vizier. "Do you
think," said the caliph, "that I can give a juster sentence than that
we have now heard?" "If the affair be the same," returned the grand
vizier, "it appears to me that your majesty cannot proceed in a better
manner, nor give any other judgment." "Notice well this house, then,"
said the caliph, "and bring me the boy to-morrow, that he may judge
the same cause in my presence. Order the cadi, also, who acquitted the
merchant, to be at the palace, that he may learn his duty from this
child, and correct his deficiencies. I desire, too, that you will tell
Ali Cogia to bring with him his jar of olives, and do you procure two
olive merchants to be present at the audience." The caliph gave this
order as he continued his walk, which he finished without meeting with
anything else that deserved his attention.

On the morrow the grand vizier repaired to the house where the caliph
had been witness to the game the children had played at, and he asked
to speak to the master of it, but he being gone out, he was introduced
to the mistress. He asked her if she had any children; she replied
that she had three, whom she brought to him. "My children," said he to
them, "which of you acted the cadi last night as you were playing
together?" The eldest replied that it was he; and as he was ignorant
of the reason for this question, he changed color. "My child," said
the grand vizier, "come with me; the Commander of the Faithful wishes
to see you."

The mother was extremely alarmed when she saw that the vizier was
going to take away her son. "Sir," said she, "is it to take away my
son entirely that the Commander of the Faithful has sent for him