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 For three
years king Shahriah married a new wife every day .Every morning
the executioner cut off the head of the king's new wife. More than a thousand girls
died.
The Wazir was very unhappy about this, but he was afraid of the
King. He was afraid of the executioner, too. He often shut himself in his room and cried. He prayed
top God to help him.
One day, someone heard the Wazir crying. That person was the Wazir's daughter. She was beautiful, clever and good, and her name was Sheherezade. The Wazir loved her more than anything in the world. Sheherezade walked into her father in the world. Sheherezade walked into her father's room.
Why are you so sad, Father? she asked. Dear child, said the Wazir, I am crying for a thousand lovely young girls. Every day the King arrives a new wife. Every morning his executioner cuts off her head.
But why? asked Sheherezade. Her father told her the whole sad story. It makes me so sad that it will break my heart. he finished but I don't know what Ican do.
 Sheherezade was sad, too when
she heard about the poor young girls. She thought
carefully for a few minutes. Then she said:
Listen, Father. I think I know
how we can stop the King from killing any more
young girls. Let me marry him. You?
Oh my dear daughter do
not throw your life away! Do not eave your
poor old father alone in the world! Father please do as I ask you.
I have a plan. King Shahriah was very happy
when he saw Sheherezade. Why
didn't you bring this one to me before, Wazir?
he
said. She is my own
daughter, great King, said the Wazir. very sadly. That night
Sheherezade lay beside the King in his great bed she began
to tell him a story. Shahriah had never
heard a story like it before.
The story was about
a place far far away where people did strange
things. Sometimes the story was funny and the King
laughed. He had not laughed so much for many
years. Sometimes it was sad and he could not stop
crying. He had not cried so much for many years, either.
Always it was interesting. But before Sheherezade
reached the end of the story day had come.
 The sun was up in a
pink sky, and the birds were singing their
morning song.
It is day, said the
King. I have work to do, Tonight Sheherezade, you
must come to me again. You can finish the story
then.
The executioner was
standing outside the door. No this morning, the King told him Come
again tomorrow.
So Sheherezade
lived one day longer than all the other young girls.
The next night she
finished her story. Then she started a new one.
This story too, was about a wonderful place far
way. The King laughed even launder at the funny parts. He cried even
longer at the sad parts. He was
so interested in the story that before he knew it, it was
daytime. And of course. Sheherezade had not finished.
Once again the King
sent the executioner away. He asked Sheherezade
to come back the next night to finish her second
story.
So it went on night
after night, week after week, month after month. Sheherezade knew so
many different stories. Each one was new. Each one was too long to
finish before day came.
Here are just a few of
the stories that she told the King.
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Long ago
there was a great king called Shahriah. Hew as a good king--until
he found
his wife loved another man. Then the King was
very angry with his wife, Cut off her head! he
roared. The executioner took the King's wife away, and cut
her head off.
Any woman would
love you for ever great King said the Wazir.
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