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EAST INDIAN STORIES
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THE SON OF SEVEN QUEENS
ADAPTED BY JOSEPH JACOBS
Once upon a time there lived a King who had seven Queens, but no
children. This was a great grief to him, especially when he remembered
that on his death there would be no heir to inherit the kingdom.
Now it happened one day that a poor old fakir came to the King and
said, "Your prayers are heard, your desire shall be accomplished, and
one of your seven Queens shall bear a son."
The King's delight at this promise knew no bounds, and he gave orders
for appropriate festivities to be prepared against the coming event
throughout the length and breadth of the land.
Meanwhile the seven Queens lived luxuriously in a splendid palace,
attended by hundreds of female slaves, and fed to their hearts'
content on sweetmeats and confectionery.
Now the King was very fond of hunting, and one day, before he started,
the seven Queens sent him a message saying, "May it please our dearest
lord not to hunt toward the north to-day, for we have dreamed bad
dreams, and fear lest evil should befall you."
The King, to allay their anxiety, promised regard for their wishes,
and set out toward the south; but as luck would have it, although he
hunted diligently, he found no game.
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