The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-11-01

az don't quite see" he thought to
himself, chow I am to get any break
fast; this is a little too much of
good thing" He took up one ofthe
smoking cakes; it became a heap of
yellow gold. Almost in despair he
helped himself to a boiled egg and it
was at once like one of those the
famous goose in story-book was in
the habit of laying. 'Well, this is a
quandary, such a costly breakfast
and nothingto eat" thought he, lean
! ing bach in his chair and looking
quite enviously at little Marygold,
who was eating her bread and milk
with great satisfaction. Already he
was hungry what would he be din
ner time and how ravenOusly hun
cry by supper. How many days
could he stand it.
Here, so great was his hunger that
he groaned aloud, and pretty little
Marygold started from her chair, and
running to Midas threw her arms
affectionately about his knees. He
bent down and kissed her; he felt
that his little daughters love was
worth a thousand times more than
the gold he had gained by the Gold
en- Touch.
''My precious, precious Marygold, "
said he. But Marygold made no
answer. Alas, what had he done
How fatal was the gift the stranger
had bestowed The minute the lips
of Midas touched the forehead of his
little daughter a change had taken
place. Her sweet rosy face, so full
! of love as it had been, assumed gilt
tering yellow color with yellow tear
drops cOngealing on her cheeks. Her
beautiful brown curls became spirals
Of gold filagree. Her soft and fexi-
BILE form became hard and rigid in
her father embrace. OH frightful
misfortune. The victim of his in
satiable desire for wealth, Little Ma
rygold was a human child no longer,
but a golden statue.
Yes, there she was, with the ques-
tioning look of love and pity harden
ed into her face. 1t was the pretti-
est and most woeful sight that ever
mortal beheld, and poor Midas, in
his grief and horror, felt how infinite
ly a warm and tender heart that low
ed him exceeded in value all the
wealth that could be piled up be-
tween the earth and sky.
Poor Midas, in the very fullness of
all his gratifed wishes, began to
wiring his bands and bemoan him
self he could not bear to look at
Marygold, nor yet to look away from
her. All the features and token of
his child were there even the little
dimple IN her golden chin. But the
more perfect the resemblance the
greater the fathers agony at behold
ing IN this golden image all that was
left him of his little darling pet.
Alas too well has his wish been
granted. So Midas had only to
wiring his hands and wish that he
was the poorest man in the world, if
the loss of all his wealth would only
bring back the life into his dear lit
tie child.
While he was in this tumult of
despair he suddenly beheld a strang-
er standing near the door. Midas
bent down his head without speak
ing, for he recognized the same fig
ure which had appeared to him the
day before, in the treasure room, and
bestowed on him the Golden Touch.
"Well, friend Midas" said the
stranger, "pray how do you succeed
with the Golden Touch ?"
Midas wruug his hands. "I am
very miserable" said he. every
miserable, indeed !" exclaimed the
stranger, and how happens that :?
Have not faithfully kept my prom
Use to you? Have you not every
thing your heart desired? o.
"Gold is not everything" replied
Midas; "and I have lost everything
my heart really cared for"
"Ah! So you have made that dis
cogery. Let us see, then. Which
of these things do you really think
worth the most-the gift of the
} Golden Touch, or one cup of clear,
cold water 90
80, blessed water!" exclaimed Nj
das. "It Will never moisten my
parched lips again
"The Golden Touch" continued
the stranger, cor a crust of bread. -
: GA piece of bread is worth all the
gold on earth, replied poor heart
broken Midas.
1.-The Golden Touch" asked the
stranger, cor your own little Mary
gold, warm, soft and loving, as she
, was an hour ago ?"
, ooh, my child, my darling child =
2 said poor Midas, wringing his hands
r Il would not give that one small
dimple in her chin for the power ot
, changing this whole earth into one
3 solid lump of gold"
You are wiser than you were
King Midas. You now see that the
e commOnest things, such as lie within
L everybodys grasp. are more valua
e bic than the riches for which SC
u many mOrtals sigh and struggle
1 Tell me now, do you sincerely wish
}, to rid yourself of this Colder
u Touch ?"
: at is hateful to me-" replied
S Midas.
d Go then and plunge into thu
: river that glides past the bottom o
your garden. Take, likewise, a vas
: of the same water, and sprinkle
y 1t over any object that you may de
IS sire to change back again from golC
/. to its former substance. If you d.
d this IN earnest sincerity, 1t may pos
= sibly repair the mischief you hav
t. done with your avarico."
d King Midas bowed low, and whel
It he raised his head the lustrOu
l. STRANGER had disaDy.aared