nd does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

[Illustration]

THE GOLDEN TOUCH--I

touch slightest creature statue

Many years ago there lived a king named Midas.

King Midas had one little daughter, whose name was Marigold.

King Midas was very, very rich. It was said that he had more gold than
any other king in the world.

One room of his great castle was almost filled with yellow gold pieces.

At last the king grew so fond of his gold that he loved it better than
anything else in all the world.

He even loved it better than his own little daughter, dear little
rosy-cheeked Marigold. His one great wish seemed to be for more and more
gold.

One day while he was in his gold room counting his money, a beautiful
fairy boy stood before him.

The boy's face shone with a wonderful light, and he had wings on his cap
and wings on his feet. In his hand he carried a strange-looking wand,
and the wand also had wings.

"Midas, you are the richest man in the world," said the fairy. "There is
no king who has so much gold as you."

"That may be," said the king. "As you see, I have this room full of
gold, but I should like much more; for gold is the best and the most
wonderful thing in the world."

"Are you sure?" asked the fairy.

"I am very sure," answered the king.

"If I should grant you one wish," said the fairy, "would you ask for
more gold?"

"If I could have but one wish," said the king, "I would ask that
everything I touched should turn to beautiful yellow gold."

"Your wish shall be granted," said the fairy "At sunrise to-morrow
morning your slightest touch will turn everything into gold. But warn
you that your gift will not make you happy."

"I will take the risk," said the king.

THE GOLDEN TOUCH--II

The next morning King Midas awoke very early. He was eager to see if the
fairy's promise had come true.

As soon as the sun arose he tried the gift by touching the bed lightly
with his hand.

The bed turned to gold.

[Illustration]

He touched the chair and table.

Upon the instant they were turned to solid gold.

The king was wild with joy.

He ran around the room, touching everything he could see. His magic gift
turned all to shining, yellow gold.

The king soon felt hungry and went down to eat his breakfast. Now a
strange thing happened. Whe