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I . The Porter and the Sailor Long ago , when the Caliph Harun al - Rashid ruled in Baghdad , there lived in that city a poor porter called Hindbad . A porter is a man who carries heavy things for other people . One very hot day Hindbad had to carry a heavy load across the whole city . Halfway there , he was so tired that he could hardly walk . In a quiet street he put down his load and sat in the shade of a big house . Sweet smells came from its windows . Inside he could hear music and the songs of birds , and there was a smell of good food . He went up to one of the servants at the door . “ Who lives in this house ? ” he asked . “ What ? ” said the servant . “ You live in Baghdad and you don’t know ? This is the house of Sinbad the Sailor , the famous traveller . He has sailed across every sea under the sun . ” Hindbad had often heard about Sinbad’s great riches . He looked up at the sky and spoke aloud . “ Oh God , look at Sinbad’s life , and look at mine ! Every day I work hard , and I can hardly buy bread for my wife and children . And Sinbad spends money all day and eats the best food in the world . What did he do to get such a happy life ? And what did I do to get such a hard one ? ” At that moment a servant came out of the house and took his arm . “ Come with me , ” he said . “ My master wants to speak to you . ” Hindbad was afraid . Perhaps Sinbad had heard his angry words ! But he followed the servant inside . In a large room many guests were sitting round a table full of wonderful food . In the place of honour sat a tall , serious man with a long white beard . This was the famous Sinbad . The porter bowed , shaking with fear . But Sinbad asked the porter to sit next to him and put the best food on his plate himself . After the meal Sinbad turned to him . “ What is your name ? ” he asked . “ Hindbad , sir . I am a porter . ” “ I am glad to see you here , Hindbad , ” said Sinbad . “ But please tell me : what did you say just now in the street ? ” Sinbad had passed the open window before the feast , and he had heard every word . Hindbad’s face went red . “ Sir , ” he said , “ I was tired and in a bad mood , and I said foolish things . Please forgive me . ” “ I am not angry with you , ” said Sinbad . “ I understand your life , and I feel sorry for you . But you are wrong about me . You think that my riches came to me easily . That is not true . For many years I suffered hunger , fear and danger before I became rich . ” Then he turned to his guests . “ My friends , ” he said , “ you have perhaps heard stories about my seven voyages . A voyage is a long journey by sea . But people often tell these stories wrongly . So I will tell you the true story , one voyage every day . After that , nobody here will want to get rich by sailing the seas ! ” First Sinbad sent his servants to carry the porter’s load to the right house . Then he began .
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