The Crimson Fairy Book, part 35 · page 21 2101It seems as though you were to stick to your needle.102You have not deserved any mercy, but I cannot be harsh on this day.103I give you your life, but I advise you to leave this country as fast as you can.”104Full of shame, the unlucky tailor could not answer.105He flung himself down before Omar, and with tears in his eyes asked: “Can you forgive me, prince?”106“Go in peace,” said Omar as he raised him.107“Oh, my true son!” cried the king as he clasped the prince in his arms, whilst all the pachas and emirs shouted, “Long live Prince Omar!”108In the midst of all the noise and rejoicing Labakan slipped off with his little box under his arm.109He went to the stables, saddled his old horse, Murva, and rode out of the gate towards Alexandria.110Nothing but the ivory box with its diamond motto was left to show him that the last few weeks had not been a dream.111When he reached Alexandria he rode up to his old master’s door.112When he entered the shop, his master came forward to ask what was his pleasure, but as soon as he saw who it was he called his workmen, and they all fell on Labakan with blows and angry words, till at last he fell, half fainting, on a heap of old clothes.113The master then scolded him soundly about the stolen robe, but in vain Labakan told him he had come to pay for it and offered three times its price.114They only fell to beating him again, and at last pushed him out of the house more dead than alive.115He could do nothing but remount his horse and ride to an inn.116Here he found a quiet place in which to rest his bruised and battered limbs and to think over his many misfortunes.117He fell asleep fully determined to give up trying to be great, but to lead the life of an honest workman.118Next morning he set to work to fulfil his good resolutions.119He sold his little box to a jeweller for a good price, bought a house and opened a workshop.120Then he hung up a sign with, “Labakan, Tailor,” over his door, and sat down to mend his own torn clothes with the very needle which had been in the ivory box.121After a while he was called away, and when he went back to his work he found a wonderful thing had happened!122The needle was sewing away all by itself and making the neatest little stitches, such as Labakan had never been able to make even at his best.123Certainly even the smallest gift of a kind fairy is of great value, and this one had yet another advantage, for the thread never came to an end, however much the needle sewed.124Labakan soon got plenty of customers.125He used to cut out the clothes, make the first stitch with the magic needle, and then leave it to do the rest.126Before long the whole town went to him, for his work was both so good and so cheap.127The only puzzle was how he could do so much, working all alone, and also why he worked with closed doors.1 2← previousThe Crimson Fairy Book, part 34next →The Crimson Fairy Book, part 36↑ back to The Crimson Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2435/35/page/2/