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 Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:29 pm
The sultan was silent for a moment: then he asked, `Where were you when the bird came?' The lad answered, `I watched the date tree till the cocks were crowing and it was getting light; I then laid down for a bit, and slept. When I woke a slave was standing over me, and he said, ``There is not one date left on the tree!'' And I went to the date tree, and saw it was true; and that is what I have to tell you.'
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:29 pm
Another youth answered,"My bottom bottom is dry! I need more powdered product!" The sultan drew his sword and...
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:30 pm
And the sultan replied, `A son like you is only good for eating and sleeping. I have no use for you. Go your way, and when my date tree bears again, I will send another son; perhaps he will watch better.'
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:31 pm
Eats herself some popcorn and listens closely for what si to happen next.
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:32 pm
Hush, Jebbidiah Badcock you'll ruin the story.
The sultan waited many months, till the tree was covered with more dates than any tree had ever borne before. When they were near ripening he sent one of his sons to the garden: saying, `My son, I am longing to taste those dates: go and watch over them, for to-day's sun will bring them to perfection.'
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:33 pm
Thinks it was not the first sons fault. He was terribly tired. Wonders if the dates will be safe this time. Eats more popcorn.
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:34 pm
And the lad answered: `My father, I am going now, and to-morrow, when the sun has passed the hour of seven, bid a slave come and gather the dates.'
`Good,' said the sultan. The youth went to the tree, and lay down and slept. And about midnight he arose to look at the tree, and the dates were all there -- beautiful dates, swinging in bunches.
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:36 pm
`Ah, my father will have a feast, indeed,' thought he. `What a fool my brother was not to take more heed! Now he is in disgrace, and we know him no more. Well, I will watch till the bird comes. I should like to see what manner of bird it is.'
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:37 pm
[reads end of the story] It's an African Swallow.
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:37 pm
He sat and read till the cocks crew and it grew light, and the dates were still on the tree. `Oh my father will have his dates; they are all safe now,' he thought to himself. `I will make myself comfortable against this tree,' and he leaned against the trunk, and sleep came on him, and the bird flew down and ate all the dates.
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:39 pm
When the sun rose, the head-man came and looked for the dates, and there were no dates. And he woke the young man, and said to him, `Look at the tree.'
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:39 pm
Oh no! Did you mention a rooster! The blood flows! The hips move! I must dance! ¡Baìle!
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:40 pm
And the young man looked, and there were no dates. And his ears were stopped, and his legs trembled, and his tongue grew heavy at the thought of the sultan. His slave became frightened as he looked at him, and asked, `My master, what is it?'
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:41 pm
He answered, `I have no pain anywhere, but I am ill everywhere. My whole body is well, and my whole body is sick I fear my father, for did I not say to him, ''To-morrow at seven you shall taste the dates''? And he will drive me away, as he drove away my brother! I will go away myself, before he sends me.'
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:42 pm
Continues to eat her popcorn listening to the story. She is actouly very interesting.
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