addin, had been brought up in a very careless
and idle manner, and by that means had contracted many vicious habits.
He was obstinate, and disobedient to his father and mother, who, when he
grew up, could not keep him within doors. He was in the habit of going
out early in the morning, and would stay out all day, playing in the
streets with idle children of his own age.

When he was old enough to learn a trade, his father, not being able to
put him out to any other, took him into his own shop, and taught him how
to use his needle: but neither fair words nor the fear of chastisement
were capable of fixing his lively genius. All his father's endeavours to
keep him to his work were in vain; for no sooner was his back turned,
than he was gone for that day. Mustapha chastised him, but Aladdin was
incorrigible, and his father, to his great grief, was forced to abandon
him to his idleness: and was so much troubled at not being able to
reclaim him, that it threw him into a fit of sickness, of which he died
in a few months.

The mother, finding that her son would not follow his father's business,
shut up the shop, sold off the implements of trade, and with the money
she received for them, and what she could get by spinning cotton,
thought to maintain herself and her son.

Aladdin, who was now no longer restrained by the fear of a father, and
who cared so little for his mother that whenever she chid him he would
abuse her, gave himself entirely over to his idle habits, and was never
out of the streets from his companions. This course he followed till he
was fifteen years old, without giving his mind to any useful pursuit, or
the least reflection on what would become of him. In this situation, as
he was one day playing with his vagabond associates, a stranger passing
by stood to observe him.

This stranger was a sorcerer, called the African magician; as he was a
native of Africa, and had been but two days arrived from thence.

The African magician, who was a good physiognomist, observing in
Aladdin's countenance something absolutely necessary for the execution
of the design he was engaged in, inquired artfully about his family, who
he was, and what were his inclinations; and when he had learned all he
desired to know, went up to him, and taking him aside from his comrades,
said: "Child, was not your father called Mustapha, the tailor?" "Yes,
sir," answered the boy; "but he has been dead a long time."

At these words, the Afr