Aladdin O'Brien. Gouverneur Morris

BOOK I

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      “It was many and many a year ago,

       In a kingdom by the sea,

       That a maiden there lived whom you may know

       By the name of Annabel Lee.

       And this maiden she lived with no other thought

       Than to love and be loved by me.

       I was a child and she was a child”—

ALADDIN O’BRIEN

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I

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      It was on the way home from Sunday-school that Aladdin had enticed Margaret to the forbidden river. She was not sure that he knew how to row, for he was prone to exaggerate his prowess at this and that, and she went because of the fine defiance of it, and because Aladdin exercised an irresistible fascination. He it was who could whistle the most engagingly through his front teeth; and he it was, when sad dogs of boys of the world were met behind the barn, who could blow the smoke of the fragrant grapevine through his nose, and swallow the same without alarm to himself or to his admirers. To be with him was in itself a soulful wickedness, a delicious and elevating lesson in corruption. But to be with him when he had done wrong, and was sorry for it (as always when found out), that was enough to give one visions of freckled angels, and the sweetness of Paradise in May.

      Aladdin brought the skiff into the float, stern first, with a bump. Pride sat high upon his freckled brow, and he whistled piercing notes.

      “I can do it,” he said. “Now get in.”

      Margaret embarked