THE STORY OF KING MIDAS.

golden flower. The path, and even the grass that he trod on,
became gold.
 But even a King will get hungry. So Midas went back to the
palace .for his breakfast. He asked for water. A glass was given
him; the moment he put it to his lips, it turned to gold. The poor
King could not drink gold. All the money in the world could not
buy him a drink of water.
 He sat down to eat. But every mouthful became gold the
moment he put it to his lips. So he could eat nothing. With all
his gold, he would yet have to starve to death.
 Then the stranger again appeared. The King, with tears in his
eyes, begged him to take away the touch that turned everything to
gold.
 "Are you not happy, King Midas asked the stranger.
 "' I am most miserable," groaned the King. "I beg you take
away this hateful touch."
 Then the stranger told the King to bathe in a stream near by, and
the golden touch would leave him.
 Midas lost no time in obeying. The water washed away the
golden touch. He was a happier King then than he had been
before.
 CHARLES T. JEROME,






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