amp in their
hands; I, and the other slaves of the lamp."

"I am hungry," said Aladdin. "Bring me something to eat."

The genie disappeared, and presently returned with a tray holding the
same number of covered dishes as before, set it down, and vanished.

As soon as Aladdin found that their provisions were again expended, he
took one of the dishes, and went to look for his Jew chapman. But as
he was passing by a goldsmith's shop, the goldsmith perceiving him,
called to him, and said, "My lad, I imagine that you have something to
sell to the Jew, whom I often see you visit. Perhaps you do not know
that he is the greatest rogue even among the Jews. I will give you the
full worth of what you have to sell, or I will direct you to other
merchants who will not cheat you."

This offer induced Aladdin to pull his plate from under his vest and
show it to the goldsmith. At first sight he perceived that it was made
of the finest silver, and asked if he had sold such as that to the
Jew. When Aladdin told him he had sold him twelve such, for a piece of
gold each, "What a villain!" cried the goldsmith. "But," added he, "my
son, what is past cannot be recalled. By showing you the value of this
plate, which is of the finest silver we use in our shops, I will let
you see how much the Jew has cheated you."

The goldsmith took a pair of scales, weighed the dish, and assured him
that his plate would fetch by weight sixty pieces of gold, which he
offered to pay down immediately.

Aladdin thanked him for his fair dealing, and never after went to any
other person.

Though Aladdin and his mother had an inexhaustible treasure in their
lamp, and might have had whatever they wished for, yet they lived with
the same frugality as before, and it may easily be supposed that the
money for which Aladdin had sold the dishes and tray was sufficient to
maintain them some time.

During this interval, Aladdin frequented the shops of the principal
merchants, where they sold cloth of gold and silver, linens, silk
stuffs, and jewelry, and, oftentimes joining in their conversation,
acquired a knowledge of the world, and a desire to improve himself. By
his acquaintance among the jewelers, he came to know that the fruits
which he had gathered when he took the lamp were, instead of colored
glass, stones of inestimable value; but he had the prudence not to
mention this to any one, not even to his mother.

One day as Aladdin was walking about the town he