e "Ghool," or "Old Man of the Desert," is still
prevalent in Persia, which probably accounts for the popularity of the
story of "The Son of the Soap Seller." The other stories selected for
this volume are great favorites, but the story of "The Cat and the
Mouse" is perhaps the most popular of all.

The frontispiece to this volume is a reduced facsimile of a whole page
in a Persian book, showing both the pictures and the reading as they
were published in Persia. The other illustrations for "The Cat and the
Mouse" are copies of drawings by a Persian artist.

"Two friends on one carpet may with contentment sleep;
Two monarchs in one kingdom the peace can never keep.
While earth revolves, and little children play,
Cats over mice will always hold the sway."

H. J.

CONTENTS

The Cat and The Mouse
The Son of the Soap Seller
The King's Treasure
The King and The Fisherman

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Frontispiece
"Nobody was happier than this cat"
"'Now will you take off my head?'"
"The cat had a rosary of beads"
"The mice began to make merry"
"Discreetly they bore their gifts"
"And they went forward trembling"
"Five mice he caught"
"The King was sitting on his throne"
"The armies fell upon each other"
"So he mounted his elephant"
"The lion sprang upon the Princess"
"'O brothers, buy my pure soap'"
"Things became blacker and blacker"
"Leading a fine lion by a chain"
"They set forth on their journey"
"The rain fell in torrents"
"'Give me a drink of water'"
"They ran here and there"
"'Sleep, my son, while I keep watch'"
"A beautiful young woman appeared"
"Every morning Ahmed looked in the cup"
"Ahmed sprang upon the figure"
"'Ask for anything in reason'"
"A brass vessel full of round white stones"
"Lived in a sheltered valley"
"Abdul Karim was lost in wonder"
"Priests were calling the people to prayer"
"The noise and bustle of the crowded streets"
"'Two hundred krans!' repeated Abdul Karim"
"'Get out of my shop!'"
"'Here are eight krans'"
"Came in sight of his cottage"
"He hid most of the treasure"
"'Is this fish male or female?'"
"Begged that he would accept the fish"
"'The matter is closed'"
"'Are you a human being or a beast?'"
"The fisherman fell on his knees"
"His bag laden with money"

THE CAT AND THE MOUSE