His old cotton rags of clothes were changed to beautiful linen and embroidered cloth ; on his hard , bare feet were warm , soft shoes , and on his head a great jewelled turban . Round his neck there lay a heavy golden chain , and the little old bent sickle , which he cut grass with , and which hung in his waistband , had turned into a gorgeous scimetar , whose ivory hilt gleamed in the pale light like snow in moonlight . As he stood wondering , like a man in a dream , the other peri waved her hand and bade him turn and see ; and , lo ! before him a noble gateway stood open . And up an avenue of giant place trees the peris led him , dumb with amazement . At the end of the avenue , on the very spot where his hut had stood , a gorgeous palace appeared , ablaze with myriads of lights . Its great porticoes and verandahs were occupied by hurrying servants , and guards paced to and fro and saluted him respectfully as he drew near , along mossy walks and through sweeping grassy lawns where fountains were playing and flowers scented the air . Wali Dad stood stunned and helpless . ` Fear not , ' said one of the peris ; ` go to your house , and learn that God rewards the simple-hearted . ' With these words they both disappeared and left him . He walked on , thinking still that he must be dreaming . Very soon he retired to rest in a splendid room , far grander than anything he had ever dreamed of . When morning dawned he woke , and found that the palace , and himself , and his servants were all real , and that he was not dreaming after all ! If he was dumbfounded , the merchant , who was ushered into his presence soon after sunrise , was much more so . He told Wali Dad that he had not slept all night , and by the first streak of daylight had started to seek out his friend . And what a search he had had ! A great stretch of wild jungle country had , in the night , been changed into parks and gardens ; and if it had not been for some of Wali Dad 's new servants , who found him and brought him to the palace , he would have fled away under the impression that his trouble had sent him crazy , and that all he saw was only imagination . Then Wali Dad told the merchant all that had happened . By his advice he sent an invitation to the king and princess of Khaistan to come and be his guests , together with all their retinue and servants , down to the very humblest in the camp . For three nights and days a great feast was held in honour of the royal guests .
Every evening the king and his nobles were served on golden plates and from golden cups ; and the smaller people on silver plates and from silver cups ; and each evening each guest was requested to keep the places and cups that they had used as a remembrance XXXXX the occasion .
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