Download File - Black Books For Kids

The Handkerchief
And he sat down by the wall and thought.
Some hours later the ugly man came back to them.
"Here is some water for you to drink. But I shall not give you any food.
You are fate enough."
Then the king said: "If we must die, we must. But I want to tell you
something. You may get much money for it."
"I like money very much," said the ugly man. "Go on!"
"I am a weaver and the King's wife likes my work very much. I shall weave
a handkerchief, and you will take it to her. You will get more money for it
than for the good dishes in your cafe, I am sure."
The ugly old man brought down a loom and thread, and the king began to
work. He made a beautiful handkerchief for Zakia. The old man took the
handkerchief and went to the king's wife with it. It was not easy to get to
her, but at last the servants let him in.
"I have a very beautiful handkerchief," said the old man to the king's wife.
"Look at it, please. A good weaver made it. Will you buy it?"
Zakia understood at once that the king was in trouble.
"Yes, it is a very beautiful handkerchief," she said. "I like it, and I will buy
it."
Zakia bought the handkerchief, but she told her servants to follow the old
man, and she followed the servants on horseback.
They came to the cafe and went in. Zakia waited in the street. Very soon a
fight began in the cafe. At last the king and his two ministers were free.
They came out of the cafe.
http://www.africawithin.com/tour/ghana/handkerchief.htm (3 of 4) [5/22/2003 3:10:24 AM]