Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-09-20

'IOoA! pOOA my llGIO SII, Tepl1eU her
father. "You can easily exchange one
of those golden roses for a hundred of the
ordinary kind. Sit down and eat your
bread and milk" Midas meanwhile had
poured out cup of coffee, and as he Lifted
a spoonful to his lips and slipped he was
astonished to perceive that the instant his
lips touched the liquid it became molten
gold, and the next minute hardened into z
lump. .,.s- -.s, a. .
He then took up one of the little trout
on his plate. To his horror it was hnine-
diately changed into a gold fish that looked
as if it had been made by the best gold
smith in the world. 1t was beautiful to
look at and very valuable, no doubt, only
King Midas just at that moment would
much rather it had remained a real trout
Il don't quite see,' he thought to him
sell, show am to get any breakfast; this
IS little too much of good thing" He
took up one Of the smoking cakes it be-
came heap of yellow gold. Almost in
despair, he helped himself to boiled egg
and it was at once like one of those tie
habit of laying. |fWell, this is quandary,
such costly breakfast and nothing to eat"
thought he, leaning back in the chair and
looking quite enviously at little Marycold.
who was eating her bread and milk with
great satisfaction. Already he was hun
CRY; what would lie be by dinner time A.?
and how ravenously hungry by supper.
How many days could he stand it.
Here, SO great was his hunger that lie
groaned aloud, and pretty little MarySold
started from her chair, and running to Mi
das, threw her arms aflectionately about
his knees. lie bent down and kissed hcr;
he felt that his little daughters love was
worth a thousand times more than the
gold he had gained by the Golden Touch.
''Aly precious, precious MalygoId," said
he. But Marygold made no answer. Alas.
what had he done? How fatal was the
gift the stranger had bestowed. Themi
ute the lips Of Midas touched The forehead
of his little daughter, change had taken
place. Her sweet, rosy face, 50 full Of love
as it had been, assumed glittcrng yellow
color, with yellow tear-drops c0ugraiu@ on
her cheeks. Her beautiful blown curls
became sprals of gold fIag!ce. Her soft
aud flexible form became hard and rigid
i'll her fathers embrace. GOh! frightful
misfortune. The victim of his Unsuitable
desire for wealth, Little Mary gold was a
human child no longer, bus golden
statue.
Yes, there she was, with the question:
ing look of love and pity hardcMed into
her face. 1t was the pretticSt and most
woeful sight that ever mortal beheld, ard
pOOl 4@Ald0bc, III SIIcl anu DOlCOf, 1clt
how Infinitely warm and tender heart
that loved him, exceeded in vaI,;e ali the
wealth that could be piled up between the
earth and sky.
Poor Midas, in the very filliness Of all
his gratified wishes, began TO wiring lis
hands and bemOan himself; he could not
bear to look at Marygold, nor vet to look
| away from her. All the features and
tokens Of his child were there even the
! little dimple in her golden chin. But tie
more perfect the resemblance The greater
the fathers agony at behOlding in this goI-
den image all that was left Tim Of his lItle
| darling pet. Alas too well had his wish
been granted. So Midas had only to
| wiring his hands aud wish that he was the
! poorest man i'll the world, if the loss Of all
! his wealth would only bring back the LIFE
into his dear little Child.
While he was in this tumult Of despair
J he suddenly belell stranger STANDING
near the door. Midas lent down his head
without Speaking, for lie recognized the
same figure which had appeared TO hiul
the day before, i'll the treasltre-room, and
! bestowed Oh him the Golden Touch
"Well, friend Midas" said the stranger.
"pray how do you succeed with the Golden
Touch 2"
Midas wrung his hands: 81 ain vcfy
| miserable" said lie.
! every miserable, indeed = exclaimed the
stranger, ''and how happens that? Have
not faithfully kept my promise to you ?
Have you net everything your heart de
sires ?'
"Gold is not everything" replied Midas +;
"and have lost al that my heart really
cared for"
"Ah, SO you have made that discovery 4?
Let us see then. Which Of these things
| Il ii. ~
gift of the Golden Touch, OF one cup Of
clear, cold water ?''
go, blessed water" exclaimed Midas
sit Will never moisten my parclled lips
again"
'The Golden Touch,'' continued the
STRANGER, ''or crust of bread?"
GA piece of bread is worth all the gold
Oh earth," replied poor heart-br0ken Midas.
"The Golden Touch, said Il q stranger,
G. or your own little Marygnd, W arm, soft
and loving, as she was an hour ago ?"
40, my child, my darling child" said
poor Midas, wringing his hands; II would
not give that one small dimple III her chin
for the power of changing this whole earth
into solid lump of gold"
You are wiser than you were, K;ng
Midas. You see now that the cOmmouest
things, such as lie within every body's grasp
are more valuable than the riches which sc
many mOrtals sigh and struggle for. Tel
me now, do you sincerely wish to rid your
self of this Golden r. juch 90
'' 1t is hateful to me-" replied Midas
Go then aud plunge into the river that
glideS past the bottom Of your gardcn.-
Take, likewise, vase Of the same water
aud sprinkle it over any Obj ct that you
may desire to change back again from gold
to its former substance. If you do this in
earnest sincerity, it may posi- bly, repair
the mischief you have done with your ava
lice.'
King Midas bowed low, and when la
raised his head the lustrUrs stranger had
disappeared.
"I on will easily believe that Midas lost
no time in Snatching up Il great caltlicI
pitcher, that became gold as he touched Il.
and hastcned TO the river side. AS ho
scampered along every thing l,c touched
turned yellow and became gold. On reach
ing the rivers brink he plunged ia head
long, without waiting mutll as to pull
of his shoes.
''Puof! p0of' poof" sn0rtcd Midas, as
his head emerged out OF ilie water.--
"Wcil this is really refreshing bath, an
think 1t must have quite washed aWd}
the Golden Touch. And now for filling
my pitcher"
AS he DIPPED the pitcher into the water
il gladdened his heart 10 BE l. change from
gold into the same good honest carthcI
vessel which it had hccn. King Midas
fastened back to the palace, and you need
not hardly be told the fiibt lling hc did
was to sprinkle it by laudt1ls oyer thc
golden figure Of little bIar, gcI!.
No sooner did it fall on ifer than you
would have laughed Ia sye how the rosy
color came back to the ear cLild's cheek
and how sba hprnu IN -..payn aud suItter