THE GOLDEN TOUCH. 59

took himself, whenever he wanted to be particularly
happy. Here, after carefully locking the door, he would
take a bag of gold coin, or a gold cup as big as a wash-
bowl, or a heavy golden bar, or a peck-measure of gold-
dust, and bring them from the obscure corners of the
room into the one bright and narrow sunbeam that fell
from the dungeon-like window. He valued the sunbeam
for no other reason but that his treasure would not shine
without its help. And then would he reckon over the
coins in the bag ; toss up the bar, and catch it as it came
down; sift the gold-dust through his fingers; look at
the funny image of his own face, as reflected in the bur-
nished circumference of the cup; and whisper to him-
‘self, “O Midas, rich King Midas, what a happy man art
thou!” But it was laughable to see how the image of
his face kept grinning at him, out of the polished surface
of the cup. It seemed to be aware of his foolish behav-
ior, and to have a naughty inclination to make fun of
him.

Midas called himself a happy man, but felt that he
was not yet quite so happy as he might be. The very tip-
top of enjoyment would never be reached, unless the whole
world were to become his treasure-room, and be filled
with yellow metal which should be all his own.

Now, I need hardly remind such wise little people as
you are, that in the old, old times, when King Midas was
alive, a great many things came to pass, which we should
consider wonderful if they were to happen in our own
day and country. And, on the other hand, a great many
things take place nowadays, which seem not only won-