The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-06-15

Such splendOr followed him,
The very sunbeams seemed to palo.
And morn itself grew dim.
But when he came to the water
For his delicious bath,
And dipped his hand in the surface smooth
He started in sudden wrath;
For the liquid, light and leaping,
So crystalbright and clear,
Crew solid lake of heavy gold,
And the King began to fearl
But out he went to the garden.
So frosh in the morning hour,
And thousand buds in the balmy night
Had burst into perfect flower
Twas world of perfume and color.
OF tender and delicate bloom, ssa
But only the hideous thirst for wealth
In the Kings heart found room
He passed like spirit of autumn
Through that fair space of bloom
And the leaves and the flowers grew yellow,
In dull and scentless gloom.
Back to the lofty palace
Went the glad monarch then,
Ana sat at his sumptuous breakfast
Most fortunate or meul
He broke the fine, white wheaton roll.
The light and wholesome bread
ana It turned to a lump of metal rich
II had as well been lead!
A$diu utu I6dr assam the KING. z
When-what was this he heard?
v Inc voice of his little daughter dear,
AS sweet as grieving bird.
Sobbfng she stood before him.
And golden rose held she.
Ana the tears that brimmed her blue, blue
We're pitifui to see.
Fatherl o Father dearestf
This dreadful thing-oh, seel
VI, what mas happened to all the f1owers7
Tell me, what can it be?'
Why should you cry, my daughter?
Are not these blossoms Of gold
Beautiful, precious and wonderful
With splendor not to be told?"
hate them. o my fatherl
They're stiff and hard and dead,
mat were SO sweet and soft and fair.
And blushed so warm and red
I" Come here" he cried. ..my darling"
And bent. her cheek to kiss
To comfort when Heavenly Powersf
what fearful thing was this?
He sank back shuddering and avhast
But she stood still as DEATH
STATUE OF horrible cleaning gold,
With neither motion nor breath,
The gold tears hardened ON her check.
The gold rose in her hand
Even her little sandals changed sssf
10 gold, where she did stand
Then such trmult of despair
Tho wretched King possessed
he wrung his hands, and tore his hair
And sobbed, and beat his breast
Weighed with one look from her sweet ovaa
What was the whole world worth?
Against one touch of her loving lips,
The treasure of all the earth?
Then came that voice, like music.
:. :, As fresh as the morning air,
I" how Is 1t with you, King Midas.
hlch IN your answered prayer2'
And there in the sunshine smiling,
Majestic as before,
Rudy and young and glorious,
The Stranger stood once more
" Take back your gift SO terriblel
No blessing, but cursel
One loving heart more precious Il
Than the gold of the universe"
The Stranger listened-a sweeter smile
kindled his brave. bright eyes
: Glad am I, o King Midas,
That you have grown so wisei
Again your wish is granted:
More swiftly than before
All you have harmed with the fatal touch
fou snail again restore"
He clasped his little daughter
Oh, joy-within his arms.
ene Irelnbied back to her human self,
with all her human charms
Across her face he saw the life
Beneath his kiss begin,
Upon her lovely chin.
AGAIN her eyes grew blue and clear.
Again her cheek flushed red
enc locked her arms about his neck
MY father dearY' she said
Oh, happy was King Midas.
Against his heart to hold
His treasure of love more precious
Ihan thousand worlds of roldl
Cello 17larter, IN st. Nicholas.