THE GOLDEN TOUCH. 63

Somehow or other, this last transformation did not
quite please King Midas. He would rather that his little
daughter’s handiwork should have remained just the same
as when she climbed his knee and put it into his hand.

But it was not worth while to vex himself about a trifle.
Midas now took his spectacles from his pocket, and put
them on his nose, in order that he might see more dis-
tinctly what he was about. In those days, spectacles for
common people had not been invented, but were already
worn by kings; else, how could Midas have had any?
To his great perplexity, however, excellent as the glasses
were, he discovered that he could not possibly see through
them. But this was the most natural thing in the world ;
for, on taking them off, the transparent crystals turned
out to be plates of yellow metal, and, of course, were
worthless as spectacles, though valuable as gold. It
struck Midas as rather inconvenient, that, with all his
wealth, he could never again be rich enough to own a
pau of serviceable spectacles.

“It is no great matter, nevertheless,” said he to him-
self, very philosophically. “We cannot expect any great
good, without its being accompanied with some small in-
convenience. The Golden Touch is worth the sacrifice
of a pair of spectacles, at least, if not of one’s very eye-
sight. My own eyes will serve for ordmary purposes,
and little Marygold will soon be old enough to read to
me.” \y
Wise King Midas was so exalted by his good fortune,
that the palace seemed not sufficiently spacious to con-
tain him. He therefore went down stairs, and smiled,

E