he said after a pause, "it must be very nice to have a lamp to rub, so
that you may have so many things you really want."

He immediately regretted having said this; for Aladdin took up his
lamp. "Very well," he said, placing the lamp in Everychild's hands.
And there was a malicious gleam in his slanting eyes as he added,
"Suppose you make a wish. But I charge you!--think twice before you
wish."

Everychild could not take back his words; and besides, he was tempted.
He touched the lamp with trembling fingers. He rubbed it, hoping that
Aladdin would not laugh at him for being awkward or inexperienced. And
sure enough, the genie of the lamp appeared.

Everychild became quite dumb. He cast an appealing glance at Aladdin.
"Won't _you_ make a wish?" he begged. "After all, it's very hard,
knowing what to wish for."

"It is," admitted Aladdin. "No, I'll not make a wish. It was you who
summoned the genie. You shall make your own wish!"

At this Everychild glanced at the genie as if in search of assistance.
But he received no encouragement at all. The genie really looked like
a person who had come to bring evil rather than good. And Everychild
felt his heart pounding painfully, and his head throbbing. But at last
a happy thought occurred to him. He might make a very little wish!

"It is getting dark," he said to the genie, trying to speak as if he
were thoroughly experienced in making wishes, "I wish I had a nice
place to sleep, here in the forest."