THE GOLDEN TOUCH. 6]

of them again. The stranger’s aspect, indeed, was so
good-humored and kindly, if not beneficent, that it would
have been unreasonable to suspect him of intending any
mischief. It was far more probable that he came to do
Midas a favor. And what could that favor be, unless
to multiply his heaps of treasure ?

The stranger gazed about the room; and when his
lustrous smile had glistened upon all the golden objects
that were there, he turned again to Midas.

“You are a wealthy man, friend Midas!” he ob-
served. ‘I doubt whether any other four walls, on
earth, contain so much gold as you have contrived to
pile up in this room.’

‘““T have done pretty well, — pretty well,” answered
Midas, in a discontented tone. ‘‘ But, after all, it is but
a trifle, when you consider that it has taken me my whole
life to get it together. If one could live a thousand
years, he might have time to grow rich!”

“What!” exclaimed the stranger. ‘Then you are
not satisfied ? ”

Midas shook his head.

“And pray what would satisfy you?” asked the stran-
ger. ‘‘ Merely for the curiosity of the thing, I should
be glad ‘to know.”

Midas paused and meditated. THe felt a presentiment
that this stranger, with such a golden lustre in his good-
humored smile, had come hither with both the power and
the purpose of gratifying his utmost wishes. Now,
therefore, was the fortunate moment, when he had but
to speak, and obtain whatever possible, or seemingly