What is it , head-man ? ' cried they . ` Ah , it is not a son that the master has , but a lion ! This day Sit-in-the-kitchen has uncovered his face before his father ! ' ` But how , head-man ? ' ` To day the people may eat the dates . ' ` Is it true , head-man ? ' ` Oh yes , it is true , but let him sleep till each man has brought forth a present . He who has fowls , let him take fowls ; he who has a goat , let him take a goat ; he who has rice , let him take rice . ' And the people did as he had said . Then they took the drum , and went to the tree where the boy lay sleeping . And they picked him up , and carried him away , with horns and clarionets and drums , with clappings of hands and shrieks of joy , straight to his father 's house . When his father heard the noise and saw the baskets made of green leaves , brimming over with dates , and his son borne high on the necks of slaves , his heart leaped , and he said to himself ` To-day at last I shall eat dates . ' And he called his wife to see what her son had done , and ordered his soldiers to take the boy and bring him to his father . ` What news , my son ? ' said he . ` News ? I have no news , except that if you will open your mouth you shall see what dates taste like . ' And he plucked a date , and put it into his father 's mouth . ` Ah !
You are indeed my son , ' XXXXX the sultan .
Is called carried cried eat made ordered said take uncovered