74 THE GOLDEN TOUCH.

beheld a stranger, standing near the door. Midas bent
down his head, without speaking; for he recognized the
same figure which had appeared to him, the day before,
in the treasure-room, and had bestowed on him this dis-
astrous faculty of the Golden Touch. The stranger’s
countenance still wore a smile, which seemed to shed a
yellow lustre all about the room, and gleamed on little
Marygold’s image, and on the other objects that had been
transmuted by the touch of Midas. |

“Well, friend Midas,” said the stranger, ‘ pray how
do you succeed with the Golden Touch ?”

Midas shook his head.

“‘T am very miserable,” said lie.

“Very miserable, indeed!” exclaimed the stranger.
“And how happens that? Have I not faithfully kept
my promise with you? Have you not everything that
your heart desired P”’

“Gold is not everything,” answered Midas. ‘‘ And I
have lost all that my heart really cared for.”

“Ah! So you have made a discovery, since yes-
terday?”’ observed the stranger. “‘ Let us see, then.
Which of these two things do you think is really worth
the most, —the gift of the Golden Touch, or one cup of
clear cold water?”

“OQ blessed water!” exclaimed Midas. “ It will never
moisten my parched throat. again!”

“The Golden Touch,” continued the stranger, “ or
a crust of bread ?” | :

“ A piece of bread,’ answered Midas, ‘is worth all the
gold on earth!”