So saying, he returned to his own house, where, during forty days and forty nights, he celebrated his marriage with the daughter of the poor shepherd.
So these two had peace and their hearts’ desire of happiness, and lived happily ever afterward. Salaam! [[182]]
STORY OF THE CANDY-MAKER’S APPRENTICE
The tellers of stories and narrators of tales say that, once upon a time, there lived a woman who had a son and a daughter who were dearer to her than all else upon the earth. She was so anxious concerning them that they were never permitted to go upon the streets.
One day, to her great disquiet, it became necessary for her husband to go to the Hejaz, and that the son should accompany him.
“I am leaving you and the girl under the protection of the priest,” said the father, in an effort to lessen her anxiety. “If you should have need of anything, ask it of him.” So saying, accompanied by the son, he took leave of his wife and daughter and set off to the Hejaz.
Let us come to the priest.
One day, when he went up to the minaret to give the call to prayer, he looked down into the garden [[183]]of this man and woman, and saw there the girl who had been intrusted to his care.
Now, the girl was very lovely. And when he saw her, she was engaged in caring for the flowers in the garden. As she did so a soft melody came from her lips. It was like the humming of a bird.