After a short drive they drew up in front of a large and handsome building. It was the public bath-house.
The first room entered by Osman and his father was a large hall. It was open overhead to let in the fresh air. There was a raised platform around the sides. This platform was covered with a soft carpet and divided into small dressing-rooms. Each visitor would have one of these for himself.
A fountain was playing in the middle of the hall, making sweet music as the water fell into the marble basin.
"Go into one of those little rooms and take off your clothing, Osman," said his father.
The little boy was soon ready for the bath. The attendant had wound three bright-bordered towels around him. One of these was tied about his waist, the second was twisted into a turban around his head, while the third one was thrown over his shoulders. He would not catch cold, for the towels were thick and warm. He wore wooden slippers on his feet.
Now for the warm chamber.
Osman knew what was coming. He went at once to the marble platform in the middle of the room. There he stretched himself on a soft mattress which the attendants placed for him.
They began to rub his feet and limbs very gently. How pleasant and restful it was! The little boy soon began to perspire. This was the time for moving him into a still warmer room, called the hot chamber.
Here Osman was rubbed briskly with a camel's-hair glove after a bowl of water had been poured over his body.