The feigned merchant who was accused would have objected against the evidence of the olive-merchants; but the pretended cauzee would not suffer him.  “Hold your tongue,” said he, “you are a rogue; let him be impaled.”  The children then concluded their play, clapping their hands with great joy, and seizing the feigned criminal to carry him to execution.

Words cannot express how much the caliph Haroon al Rusheed admired the sagacity and sense of the boy who had passed so just a sentence, in an affair which was to be pleaded before himself the next day.  He withdrew, and rising off the bench, asked the grand vizier, who heard all that had passed, what he thought of it.  “Indeed, commander of the true believers,” answered the grand vizier Jaaffier, “I am surprised to find so much sagacity in one so young.”

“But,” answered the caliph, “do you know one thing?  I am to pronounce sentence in this very cause to-morrow; the true Ali Khaujeh presented his petition to me to-day; and do you think,” continued he, “that I can give a better sentence?” “I think not,” answered the vizier, " if the case is as the children represented it.”  “Take notice then of this house,” said the caliph, “and bring the boy to me to-morrow, that he may try this cause in my presence; and also order the cauzee, who acquitted the merchant, to attend to learn his duty from a child.  Take care likewise to bid Ali Khaujeh bring his jar of olives with him, and let two olive-merchants attend.”  After this charge he pursued his rounds, without meeting with any thing worth his attention.

The next day the vizier went to the house where the caliph had been a witness of the children’s play, and asked for the master; but he being abroad, his wife appeared thickly veiled.  He asked her if she had any children.  To which she answered, she had three; and called them.  “My brave boys,” said the vizier, “which of you was the cauzee when you played together last night?” The eldest made answer, it was he:  but, not knowing why he asked the question, coloured.  “Come along with me, my lad,” said the grand vizier; “the commander of the faithful wants to see you.”

The mother was alarmed when she saw the grand vizier would take her son with him, and asked, upon what account the caliph wanted him?  The grand vizier encouraged her, and promised that he should return again in less than an hour’s time, when she would know it from himself.  “If it be so, sir,” said the mother, “give me leave to dress him first, that he may be fit to appear before the commander of the faithful:”  which the vizier readily complied with.

As soon as the child was dressed, the vizier carried him away and presented him to the caliph, at the time he had appointed to hear Ali Khaujeh and the merchant.

The caliph, who saw that the boy was much abashed, in order to encourage him, said, “Come to me, child, and tell me if it was you that determined the affair between Ali Khaujeh and the merchant who had cheated him of his money?  I saw and heard the decision, and am very well pleased with you.”  The boy answered modestly, that it was he.  “Well, my son,” replied the caliph, “come and sit down by me, and you shall see the true Ali Khaujeh, and the true merchant.”