The curse of the Golden Touch had, therefore, really been removed from him. King Midas hastened back to the palace; and, I suppose, the servants knew not what to make of it when they saw their royal master so carefully bringing home an earthen pitcher of water. But that water, which was to undo all the mischief that his folly had wrought, was more precious to Midas than an ocean of molten gold could have been. The first thing he did, as you need hardly be told, was to sprinkle it by handfuls over the golden figure of little Marygold. No sooner did it fall on her than you would have laughed to see how the rosy color came back to the dear child's cheek!-and how she began to sneeze and sputter!-and how astonished she was to find herself dripping wet, and her father still throwing more water over her! "See "Pray do not, dear father!" cried she. how you have wet my nice frock, which I put on only this morning!" For Marygold did not know that she had been a little golden statue; nor could she remember anything that had happened since the moment when she ran with outstretched arms to comfort poor King Midas. Her father did not think it necessary to tell his 25 beloved child how very foolish he had been, but contented himself with showing how much wiser he had now grown. For this purpose, he led little Marygold into the garden, where he sprinkled all the remainder of the water over the rose-bushes, and with such good 30 20 15 10 5 10 15 effect that above five thousand roses recovered their beautiful bloom. There were two circumstances, however, which, as long as he lived, used to put King Midas in mind of the Golden Touch. One was, that 5 the sands of the river sparkled like gold; the other, that little Marygold's hair had now a golden tinge, which he had never observed in it before she had been transmuted by the effect of his kiss. This change of hue was really an improvement, and made Marygold's hair richer than in her babyhood. When King Midas had grown quite an old man, ' and used to trot Marygold's children on his knee, he was fond of telling them this marvelous story, pretty much as I have now told it to you. And then would he stroke their glossy ringlets, and tell them that their hair, likewise, had a rich shade of gold, which they had inherited from their mother. "And to tell you the truth, my precious little folks,' quoth King Midas, diligently trotting the 20 children all the while, "ever since that morning, I have hated the very sight of all other gold, save this!" 25 From "The Wonder Book." Permission of Houghton, Mifflin & Co. NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE. CORONATION. At the king's gate the subtle noon Into the drowsy snare too soon Through the king's gate, unquestioned then, The king sat bowed beneath his crown, "Poor man, what wouldst thou have of me?" Up rose the king, and from his head Shook off the crown and threw it by. "O man, thou must have known," he said, "A greater king than I.” Through all the gates, unquestioned then, The beggar laughed. Free winds in haste 20 15 10 5 5 10 At the king's gate, the crafty noon "Ho here! Ho there! Has no man seen On the king's gate the moss grew gray; Slave in his father's stead. Permission of Roberts Brothers. HELEN HUNT JACKSON. THE TRUANT. We have had a scene of a petty tribulation in the Alhambra, which has thrown a cloud over the sunny 15 countenance of Dolores. This little damsel has a female passion for pets of all kinds; and from the superabundant kindness of her disposition one of the ruined courts of the Alhambra is thronged with her favorites. A stately peacock and his hen seem to hold regal sway here, over pompous turkeys, querulous guinea-fowls, and a rabble rout of common cocks and hens. The great delight of Dolores, however, has for some time past been centered in a youthful pair of pigeons, who have lately entered into the holy state of wedlock, and even supplanted a tortoise-shell cat and kittens in her affections. As a tenement for them wherein to commence housekeeping, she had fitted up a small chamber adjacent to the kitchen, the window of which looked into one of the quiet Moorish courts. Here they lived in happy ignorance of any world beyond the court and its sunny roofs. Never had they aspired to soar above the battlements, or to mount to the summit of 10 the towers. Their virtuous union was at length crowned by two spotless and milk-white eggs, to the great joy of their cherishing little mistress. Nothing could be more praiseworthy than the conduct of the young married folks on this interesting occasion. 15 They took turns to sit upon the nest until the eggs were hatched, and while their callow progeny required warmth and shelter ;—while one thus stayed at home, the other foraged abroad for food, and brought home abundant supplies. This scene of conjugal felicity has suddenly met with a reverse. Early this morning, as Dolores was feeding the male pigeon, she took a fancy to give him a peep at the great world. Opening a window, therefore, which looks down upon the valley of the Darro, she launched him at once beyond the walls of the Alhambra. For the first time in his life the astonished bird had to try the full vigor of his wings. He swept down into the valley, and then rising upwards with a surge, soared almost to the clouds. Never 30 25 20 5 |