To Oriana Huxley Haynes...

In the days of Abd-er-Rahman, who was among the wisest and most glorious of the commanders of the faithful, there resided in the city of Baghdad an elderly merchant of such enormous wealth that his li...

A week later, at the hour of public executions and beheadings, the seven boys were again assembled cross-legged at the feet of their revered uncle, who, when he had refreshed them with cold water, and...

On the appointed day of the next week, when, with the hour of public executions, the noonday amusements of the city come to an end, and the citizens betake themselves to the early afternoon’s repose, ...

When the hour of public executions had arrived and the boys were assembled once more at their uncle’s feet to hear the story of his fortunes, (their minds full of his last success), the old man, still...

When his nephews next filed into the presence of Mahmoud at the hour of public executions their first act was to stand in a line and salaam; their next to push forward the eldest, who with much catchi...

When the nephews next entered their uncle’s presence at the hour of public executions, it was in a subdued manner, as to a funeral, for their thoughts were full of that great loss, the story of which ...

As Mahmoud’s nephews filed in just after the hour of public executions to hear the continuation of their uncle’s absorbing tale, they wore an expression different from that which he had observed on th...

When Mahmoud’s nephews reappeared before him at the hour of public executions it was in a certain weariness of spirit; for though they knew that the fortunes of their uncle must subsequently be recove...

When the hour of public execution had arrived the boys came timorously into their rich uncle’s presence, and seating themselves upon the expensive carpet at the feet of his divan, prepared to hear the...

When the nephews of Mahmoud once again attended their uncle at the hour of public executions he gazed at them in his benevolent fashion, again stroking his long beard, the better to expose the jewels ...

When the hour of public executions had arrived (they were more numerous than usual) his young nephews respectfully assembled at the feet of the aged millionaire and received the further account of his...

“As I proceeded the next morning across the waste” (continued Mahmoud to his nephews on their next visit) “I turned over in my mind how best to employ the considerable sum which my honest mule bore so...

On the appointed day of the next week the little boys were glad to observe that the number of public executions had fallen so far below the average that their uncle’s entertainment of them could begin...

“We had arrived,” said the excellent old merchant to his nephews when they were once more seated round him for the last of these entertaining relations. “We had arrived, my dear boys, in the story of ...