gift on earth. Ask of me whatever you wish in return.

Maria said:

— I ask nothing, Father, except that you love me more than salt. I am Maria.

The king wept for joy. And Maria offered a handful of salt to everyone in the palace, and still the bag the old woman had given her remained full. The king was cured of his illness at once. He summoned the ministers, pro-claimed Maria queen, and seated her upon the throne.

And then she felt the breeze blowing from the south; so she walked against the wind, crossed three hills and three valleys, and then struck the ground with her staff.

The earth split open beneath her feet, and Maria saw the steps of a staircase going down into the earth; and on the staircase stood dwarfs with lighted torches in their hands, and they said to her:

— Welcome, beautiful queen. We have been waiting for you a long time. Our mistress has com-manded us to show you all these treasures, for they are all yours.

So the girl went down the steps, the dwarfs going before her to light her way, and she found herself in a palace whose walls gleamed with gold and jewels; from its ceiling hung flowers of every kind — roses and narcissus and carnations and jasmine — and millions of precious stones shone and sparkled in every corner of the palace. Maria cried out:

— I never dreamed of such treasures!

The dwarfs answered her:

— Everything you see is made of salt.

And when Maria came out, the earth stayed open; and when she returned to her father's palace she told him what she had seen.

From that time the salt in the old woman's bag ran out, and the people began to take as much salt as they wished from the enchanted palace. As for the

eldest and the middle sisters, envy crept into their hearts; but the king and the people loved Maria dearly.

Yet the girl remained as she was — good and loving toward

everyone, as the old woman had bidden her. The grandeur of the throne and of kingship did not dazzle her, and never in her life did she forget the old woman who had loved her and been kind to her.

Throat congestion vanishes as soon as you gargle with "Aspro"

The effect of "Aspro" always shows itself quickly, and the greatest proof of this is the action it displays when it is used as a gargle — so test this for yourself. Dissolve two "Aspro" tablets in half a glass of warm water and gargle with the solution; as you gargle, the congestion eases, for the fine little particles of "Aspro" cling to the throat and carry on their soothing, healing work. Gargling with "Aspro" is also known as a useful safeguard against the infection of colds.

Gargling with "Aspro" is one of "Aspro's" many services!

5 tablets, 15 piasters

25 tablets, 70 piasters

I felt a severe soreness in my throat after that very windy day, and it distressed me greatly. It so happened that I was leafing through the government radio magazine at my brother-in-law's house and found in it the Aspro advertisement; so I sent for it at once and did what was required, and only a few short hours passed before the pain I had was gone. So I felt it my duty to offer your good selves my deepest thanks for the noble services and sincere aid you render to humanity.

Muhammad Ali Salim

Agents: J. B. Sheridan (Levant) Ltd.

P.O. Box 648, Beirut