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The Baldvm Librry
Ur.ven ry
of da
......_ I
IN
MYTHLAND
BY
M. HELEN BECKWITH
ILLUSTRATED BY
SUSANNE LATHROP
EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
BOSTON
NEW YORK CHICAGO SAN FRANCISCO
COPYRIGHTED
By EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
1896.
7To
The Kindergarten Children
Who have enjoyed
the stories.
PREFACE.
To THE CHILDREN.
My dear little friends :-
A great many, many years ago, more years ago than you
can count, there were some people living in a country called
Greece that I think you will like to hear about.
They were wise for those times, and knew how to make many
beautiful things, but they did not know much about the
"Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful world,
With the beautiful water around it curled,"
nDr much about the little country in which they lived; and they
had many queer ideas.
"Who takes care of all the things in the world?" they won-
dered. One person could not do it, there must be a great many,"
they thought. When a little boy asked his papa about it, the papa
would say, "My child, there are many gods living on Mount
Olympus, that high mountain you can see in the east. See, its top
touches the blue sky. The gods have beautiful houses built of all
manner of precious stones. They give us the things we need,
fruit and grain for food, the beautiful flowers, the fish in the sea, the
birds of the air, and the wild beasts in the forest. We must be
kind and loving, my boy, like the dear gods."
Then perhaps he would tell his little boy of Jupiter, the king
in that fair land among the clouds, and of Juno, the queen; of
Minerva, the goddess of wisdom; and of Venus, the goddess of
beauty.
Preface.
He would not forget dear little Cupid, who could shoot love
into people's hearts with his bow and arrows, nor Mercury, who
taught people to be skilful, brave and true. Oh, how swiftly he
could run, for he had wings on his shoes. He wore wings on his
cap, too; and he sometimes carried a queer staff in his hand.
There were, oh, so many more gods Apollo, who drove the
sun chariot; Diana, who took care of the moon; Ceres, who taught
the grain to grow; Peneus, who looked after the brooks and rivers;
and Neptune, the god of the sea.
These were not all; but if you want to know about any more
ask your mamma or your teacher to tell you of them, and when you
go into an Art Gallery look for paintings and statues of them.
A little Greek boy could have told you many things, could he
not? "But," I think I hear you say, "we know that there is just
one dear Father, who takes care of the things and the people He
has made."
Yes, and that is a more beautiful story than any the Greek boy
could have told you; but some of his stories are pretty ones, and
perhaps you will like to read them.
They have been saved for us all these years; and here are a few
that I have told over and over to many little boys and girls, who
have enjoyed them very much. I hope you will like them, too.
Sincerely your friend,
M. HELEN BECKWITH.
Florence Kindergarten,
Jan'y, 1896.
CONTENTS.
Epimetheus and Pandora
How Daphne became a Tree
,Eolus, the Keeper of the Winds
Latona and the Frogs
Theseus, the Brave
The Little Weaver
Midas' Touch .
Clytie, A Sunflower Myth
Vulcan, the Mighty Smith
Ceres and Proserpina
Arion, the Musician
Baucis and Philemon
PAGE
5
19
3-I
* 45
54
72
89
104
112
124
149
165
IN MYTHLAND.
EPIMETHEUS AND
PANDORA.
I.
SEpimetheus was a little boy.
He lived long, long ago when the
world was new.
He had a little house to live in, but
he had no papa and no mamma.
The other children had brothers and
sisters.
lit Mythiand.
By and by the little boy had a play-
mate.
This was a little girl.
Her name was Pandora.
In Mythland.
What happy times they had!
Did Pandora cook the food ?
No; the food they ate grew in the
garden.
Also oranges, grapes, and fruits of
other kinds.
In the house was a big box.
It was made of wood.
It had pretty pictures carved upon it.
One day Pandora said, "What is in
that box?"
I cannot tell," said the boy.
"0 yes, do tell me," said the little
girl.
I cannot; it is a secret," he said.
In Mythland.
"Where did you get it ?"
"That is a secret, too. Come and
get some figs."
Pandora went, but she thought about
the box.
"Where did Epimetheus get the
box?" she said.
She said this to herself many times.
She said it to the boy, too.
"What can be in it?" she kept
thinking.
But there was no one to tell her.
Ibt Mythtland.
II.
The next day Pandora talked of the
box.
And the next day, too.
O, Pandora, you talk all the time of
the box.
I am sick of it," said the boy.
" Tell me -what is
in it then," she
said.
"I do not know.
A man left it here."
"How did he look? "
" He had wings on
his
cap
and
wings on his shoes."
"0, it was Mercury," said Pandora.
" He left me here.
I think the box
MERCURY
MERCURY
In Mythland.
is for me. It may have pretty
in it.
O, dear boy, let us open it."
No, no," said the boy, "w
not do that.
When Mercury comes back,
can look in it."
This made Pandora cross.
She would not play.
The dear boy felt sad.
He went out to play alone.
Pandora looked at the box.
How pretty it was.
Flowers were carved upon it.
Leaves,..too, and children.
dresses
re must
then we
In Mythland.
On the top was such a pretty face.
The box was tied with a gold
cord.
Pandora did want to open it.
By and by she said, "I will look
in it."
Then she began to untie the cord.
The little boy went away by himself.
He did not play with the other
children.
He felt sad, for Pandora was cross.
He ate some figs, but they did not
taste good.
"The grapes taste sour," he said.
" I will go back to Pandora.
14 In Mythland.
I will take her some flowers."
He made a wreath of roses for her.
Then he went to the house. The
sky looked dark.
A black cloud was over the sun.
The door of the house was open.
He went in softly and shut the door.
In Mythland.
III.
Epimetheus looked for Pandora.
She was kneeling by the box.
The cord lay on the floor.
He did not call out.
He thought, "I will see what is in it,
too."
What did they see? What do you
think was in it?
Out came some bees. "Buzz, buzz,"
they said.
"O, I am stung!" said the boy.
"So am I," said Pandora.
"The room is full of bees."
She opened the door.
In Mythland.
They flew out.
They stung the other children.
They made the flowers fade.
They hurt the fruit.
They gave the
people all kinds of trouble.
In Mythland.
"0, why did we open the box?" said
Pandora.
By and by, a little tap came from the
box.
"Let me out," some one said.
"No! No!" said the children.
"Let me out and I will help
you.
Then thechildren lifted the lid.
Such a pretty thing came out.
What bright wings it had!
It looked like a butterfly.
It kissed the children's stings.
It made them well.
"Who are you?" said the children.
18 In Mythland.
"I am Hope. I am to help people
bear trouble."
Then Hope went to help the other
children.
Soon all the people felt better.
Hope never went away from the
world. She is helping people bear
trouble yet.
HOW DAPHNE BECAME
A TREE.
I
Peneus was the river god.
He took care of the raindrops that
came to him.
He took care of the little brooks.
He led them to the big river.
He led the big river to the sea.
He was kind to the little fishes.
In Mythland.
He told them where to look for food.
He taught them how to swim.
He loved them very much.
But he 1 ved Daphne best of all.
Daphne was his own dear child.
She was so pretty.
She had long golden hair.
Her eyes were like stars.
In Mythland.
She did not live in the water.
She liked the dry land.
She danced under the green trees.
She slept on the soft moss.
The birds and bees were her play-
mates.
She did not care for other friends.
Sometimes she had a ride in a big
gray cloud.
Then she would float over the river.
One day Cupid came to the river.
He came to get a drink of water.
Cupid was a dear .boy, but he did
love fun.
What a smiling face he had!
22 In Mythland.
And his eyes were so bright!
He had a bow and arrows.
The arrows were very little ones.
Some of them were made of gold.
He could shoot love into people's
hearts with these.
Some were made of lead.
He could shoot fear into people's
hearts with those.
It was not kind to do that, was it?
But Cupid loved fun, and sometimes
he did it.
In Mythland.
II.
Apollo saw Cupid by the river.
came near to
him and said,
"What do you have arrows for?
He
In Mythland.
You cannot shoot.
Strong men like me can shoot.
We can shoot very far.
You are too little.
What can you do?"
Cupid did not like this.
He said, "I can shoot, too.
shoot Apollo."
He took a little arrow ma
I can
ie of
lead.
He shot it at a rain cloud.
Daphne was in the cloud.
The arrow hit her.
It did not hurt her, but it made her
afraid.
In Mytkland.
She came out of the cloud.
- Then Cupid shot an arrow at Apollo.
This was a gold arrow.
It filled Apollo's heart with love for
Daphne.
26 In Mythland.
But Daphne's heart was full of fear.
How fast she ran!
And Apollo ran after her.
What a race it was!
"Stay Daphne," he cried.
"I will not hurt you.
I -love you, Daphne.
Do not run. You will hurt your
feet on the stones."
But Daphne ran on and on.
In Mythland.
III.
But at last Daphne could run no
more.
How tired she was, and Apollo was
so near.
DAPHNE
In Mythland. 29
What could she do?
"Father," she called.
"O, father, help me!" she cried.
The river god heard her.
What do you think he did?
He made her into a lovely 'green
tree.
The leaves were so shiny!
The flowers were like her own pink
cheeks.
O, it was such a pretty tree.
But Apollo had lost her. He felt
very sad.
"You have won the race, Daphne,"
he said.
30 In Mythland.
But I did not want to lose you."
He broke off a big branch.
"You shall be my tree," he said.
"I will make crowns of your green
leaves.
Men who do brave deeds shall wear
them."
Would you like to see the pretty tree?
It cannot live where it is cold.
You may see it in a green house.
It has leaves like laurel leaves,
It has pretty pink flowers.
We call it Daphne.
-- - --.. . //
IEOLUS, THE KEEPER OF
THE WINDS.
I.
Ulysses had been to war.
He was a brave soldier and loved
his country.
But now the war was over.
He was going home.
How glad he was.
In Mythland.
" I have been gone so long," he said.
" How glad my wife will be to see me.
ULYSSES.
And my dear boy will be glad, too.
He is not a little boy now.
Ten years is a long time.
In Mythland.
What a big boy he must be!
O, I wish I could fly to them."
But Ulysses could not fly.
He must go by boat, and his home
was far away.
At last the boats were ready.
Ulysses and his men set sail.
Days and days went by.
They did not have a pleasant time.
They had ever so much trouble.
But at last they saw land.
"I hope we can rest here," said
Ulysses.
"We are all so tired.
I hope the people will be kind to us.
-'' .' .$ l0 #
i:
''; 'i
.,. ., .r, *1
-~ .,;.r
I, A~
I,'
IEOLUS
le JI
In Myt/land. 35
We need some food to eat.
We shall need food to take with us,
too.
Will they give us some ?"
They rowed the boat to land.
Some one came to meet them.
This was iEolus.
IEolus lived on the island.
He took care of all the winds.
He kept them in a cave.
He was glad to see Ulysses.
Stay with me and rest," he said.
So Ulysses stayed many days.
36 In Mythland.
II.
One bright day Ulysses said,
I must start for home now."
Then /Eolus told the men to load
the boats with food.
"I have one thing more for you to
put in," EFolus said.
Wait here till I come back."
He had a big bag in his hand.
The bag was made of skin.
He went to a cave not far away.
"West Wind! he called.
West Wind came out.
Then ZEolus went into the cave.
He put the other winds into the bag.
In Mythland. 37
There was cold North Wind.
There was warm South Wind.
And there was rainy East Wind.
He put some little breezes in, too.
Then he tied the bag with a silver
cord.
He took it to the boat.
Put this in," he said.
He told Ulysses what was in it.
If it is too cold, let out South
Wind," he said.
If it is too hot, let out North Wind.
If you wish to go east, let out East
Wind.
Open the bag just a little.
.,~
Th
Al~
- -
WEST WIND
-Ti
...,
~
In Mythland.
Call the wind that you need.
I did not put West Wind into the
bag.
She will blow you from the shore.
She will go with you to help you.
You may not need any other wind.
If you do not, open the bag when
you get to land.
The winds will all fly home.
You must watch the bag.
Do not tell the men what is in it."
That is good," said Ulysses.
"Thank you, AEolus, Good-by."
And away they sailed.
In Mythland.
III.
How softly the wind blew!
How still the water was!
Yet the boats sailed very fast.
Nine days went by.
All this time Ulysses watched the
bag.
He would let no one touch it.
He watched it day and night.
But now he was so tired that he fell
asleep.
The men saw he was asleep.
Now we will open the bag," they
said.
" We will see what is in it.
In Mythland. 41
It may be full of gold.
We will each have a share.
Ulysses will not know.
He is asleep."
So they untied the silver cord.
Out came all the winds.
0, how they blew!
They were so glad to be free.
They blew north and south.
42 In Mythland.
They blew east and west.
The waves came into the boat.
"What shall we do?" said the men.
Ulysses awoke, but he could not
help them.
The winds blew for hours.
But at last they grew tired.
Then they flew home, but they blew
the boats back, too.
A olus heard the winds.
He came to meet them.
He saw the boats.
The men saw him and cried,
O, please tie up the winds again."
No," said /Aolus.
In Mythland.
"Ulysses cannot trust you.
The winds are tired.
They may rest in the cave now.
West Wind shall not help you.
You must help yourselves.
You will have to row Ulysses home."
In Mythland.
So they took the oars and rowed
away.
They had to row day after day.
What hard work it was!
"Why did we untie the bag?" they
said.
They said this over and over.
It was a long time before they saw
land again.
Don't you think they were glad
when they did see it.
;6 s
AND THE FROGS.
Latona had two dear little babies.
One of them was Apollo.
was the
name of the girl
baby.
Their mother loved them very
much.
She was very
home.
happy in her pretty
She lived on Mount Olympus.
Diana
LATO NAJ
e > ,
^-,
-. -.'
I~
In 47
But one day she had a quarrel.
This was with Juno.
Juno was the queen in this fair land.
Why did they quarrel?
I do not know.
But Juno said,
"Take your twin babies.
Go down to earth and live.
You can stay here no longer."
So she came down to earth.
She was in great trouble, for she
had no food.
She went from house to house.
"Please give me a little food," she
said.
48 In Mlythland.
But no one gave her any.
How hot and tired she was!
At last she saw a pretty little lake.
Tall trees grew on the banks.
The grass was soft and green.
The water was cool and clear.
"Now I can get a drink," she
thought.
"This is a nice place to rest.
The babies can sleep on the grass."
So she came near to it.
In Myt'hland.
II.
Some boys were on the bank.
They were getting willow sticks.
They made baskets of them.
They saw Latona and the babies.
-"We will have some fun," they said.
"Let us chase her with the. sticks."
Then they ran after her.
"Please go away," Latona said.
"I want to get some water to drink.
I am so tired.
The babies want some water, too.
See them hold out their little
hands."
But the rude boys laughed.
In Mythland.
They ran down to the water.
They waded in with their bare feet.
They made the water muddy.
Then they called,
"Come and drink. Come and
drink."
In Mythland. 51
Latona tried to go around the lake.
They went too, calling,
"Come and drink. Come and
drink."
At last Latona put the babies on
the grass.
She looked up at the clear blue sky.
"0, Jupiter, help me!" she cried.
"See these rude boys.
Let them stay in the water always."
Jupiter heard her.
What do you think he did?
He made them into frogs.
Their green coats turned into
skin.
2
0,1
; _w
cv
"OH JUPITER, HELP ME."
In Mythland.
So did their white vests.
They grew smaller and smaller.
They could only say one thing.
and drink.
Come- and
drink."
They say that to this day.
They live in muddy water.
They call in a hoarse voice,
"Come and drink.
Come and
drink."
But no one wants to drink out of
a frog pond.
" Come
THESEUS, THE BRAVE.
I.
Theseus lived with his mamma.
They lived in his grandfather's
house.
One day she said,
"Come with me, my boy.
Do you see that large stone?
Can you turn it over?"
"Yes, indeed," said Theseus.
And he turned it over.
In Mythland.
Some shoes and a sword were under
the stone.
"Put on the shoes,
" said mamma.
"Now put on the sword."
Theseus did so.
"Who
put the things there,
mother?"
S55
"YOU WERE A LITTLE BABY THEN"
In Mythland. 57
"Sit here by me, Theseus.
I will tell you.
A man put them there.
He was going away.
It was a long time ago.
You were a little baby then.
'Take good care of the baby', he
said.
'Teach him to be brave and true.
Some day he will be tall and strong.
Take him to the stone then.
If he is strong he can turn it over.
Then he must put on the shoes.
He must take the sword, too.
Send him to me.
58 In Mythland.
I shall know him by these things.'
Theseus, that man was your father.
He is king of Athens.
You are to go to him now."
How happy Theseus was.
"May I go at once?" he said.
"Yes," said his mother.
Then he ran to tell his grandfather
good-by.
"Go by sea," said the old man.
"It is the safer way."
"No," said Theseus.
"I have my father's sword.
I am not afraid."
And he started off.
In Mythland.
II.
Theseus came at last to Athens.
He went to his father's palace.
"I am your son," he said.
"Here are your shoes and sword."
How glad the old king was.
"My son," he said, "Athens is in
trouble.
We must send some men to the
king of Crete.
We have to send him some each
year.
Seven young men and seven girls
he asks for.
He puts them in a kind of cave.
ONE OF THE SEVEN MAIDENS
In Mythland. 61
It is called a labyrinth.
This place has many rooms.
No one can find his way out.
They have to stay there with a
dreadful dragon.
Seven men and seven girls go
to-morrow.
If we do not send them there will be
a war.
It makes us all so sad."
And the tears ran down his face.
"Let me be one to go, father," said
Theseus.
"I am strong. Let me take your
sword.
62 In Mythland.
I will kill the dragon."
"No one can take a sword, my son.
The king will not let him.
No, you must not go.
You must stay with me.
You will be king some day."
But Theseus begged to go.
"Let me try, father.
I shall win. Let me go."
At last his father said,
"Go my son. You are all I have.
But I give you to my country.
The boat has black sails.
If you win, come back with white
sails.
In Mythland.
I shall watch for you from that hill.
I shall look at the color of the sails.
Good-by, my dear, dear boy."
In Mythiand.
III.
Crete was not far away.
In a few days they came to the
place.
The king came down to the shore.
His daughter, Ariadne, came with
him.
"How well they look," he said.
"Take them to the labyrinth."
Ariadne looked at Theseus.
"How handsome he is," she thought.
I do not want him lost in the
labyrinth."
She went to him.
No one saw her.
In Mythland.
"Put this sword under your cloak,"
she said.
"You may kill the dragon.
Here is a ball of thread.
Tie one end of it in the first room
you enter.
Keep the ball in your hand.
Unwind the thread as you go from
room to room.
Wind it up as you come back.
You may be able to find your way out."
Then they were taken to the laby-
rinth.
They were put into it, and the door
was shut.
In Mythland.
Theseus had the ball of thread.
He tied one end of it near the door.
He kept the ball in his hand.
In Mythland.
As they went from room to
he unwound the thread.
All at once they heard a roar.
It was the dragon.
How large and fierce it was.
It sprang at them.
But Theseus drew his sword.
He struck it two sharp blows.
It fell to the ground.
It lay there quite dead.
67
room
68 Int Mythland.
IV.
Theseus saw that it was dead.
Then he called his friends.
"Follow me," he said.
"I will find the way out."
Very slowly he went back.
He had unwound all of the thread.
But the end was in his hand.
He wound it into a ball again, as he
went from room to room.
"I hope the thread will not break,"
he thought.
If it does not, it will lead me out."
At last he came to where he had
tied it.
In Mythland.
It was near the door.
It was quite dark now.
He opened the door softly.
In Mythland.
They all ran down to the shore.
They got into the boat and set sail
for home.
Theseus had saved their lives.
How grateful
him.
The people in
his friends
Athens
were to
were glad,
too.
They saw the boat far
out on the
water.
came to
the shore to meet
They sang songs to him.
They gave him flowers.
And afterward he was made king.
They
him.
In Mythland. 71I
Don't you think such a brave boy
would make a wise king?
ARACHNE.
THE LITTLE WEAVER.
I.
Arachne sat in her little house.
She was spinning.
She took the lamb's wool and made
it into soft rolls.
She spun the rolls into fine yarn.
The little wood nymphs came to see
her.
"We like to see you work," they
said. "You spin so well.
Your fingers fly so fast.
In Myt/iland.
No one can spin as well as you."
"Yes, I can spin well," said
Arachne. "And I can weave, too.
Many people come to see me
weave.
See this cloth. Is it not pretty?
The pictures I did with my needle."
It was very beautiful.
"Minerva, the wise one, must have
taught you," said the nymphs.
"No," said Arachne, "no one
taught me.
I can weave as well as Minerva."
"O no," said the nymphs.
"You must not say that.
In Mythland. 75
Minerva is a goddess.
No one can weave as well as she."
But Arachne said, over and over,
"Minerva did not teach me.
I can weave as well as she.
I .would like to try my skill with
hers.
I should win I know."
In Mythland.
Minerva lived with the gods on
Mount Olympus.
She heard what Arachne said.
"What a silly girl she is!" she
thought.
"I will go down and talk to her.
I will wear this old cloak.
She will not know me."
Then she came down to earth.
She went to Arachne's house.
She saw her at her work.
"How well you spin! she said.
"Can you weave, too?"
"Yes," said Arachne.
In Mythland.
"See this pretty cloth.
See the pretty pictures.
I can weave as well as Minerva.
I would like to try my skill with hers.
UV
MINERVA.
In Mythland.
S"0 you must not say that.
Try your skill with some young
girl.
Then you may win.
You cannot win in a match with
Minerva.
She taught you how to spin."
"No she did not," Arachne said.
"I can do work as well as she."
This made Minerva very angry.
"Bold girl," she said, "I am
Minerva.
Do you wish to try you skill with
mine?"
Arachne grew very pale.
Inl Mythlzand.
She knew it was not safe to try it.
"Do not try, Arachne," said her
friends.
"Tell Minerva you are sorry.
She will forgive you.
She is good and kind."
But Arachne would not do it.
"I will try. I may win." she said.
"Very well," said Minerva.
"We will begin now."
"Why is Arachne so silly?" said the
little nymphs.
"Minerva will win.
Then she will punish the wicked
girl."
In M/ythland. ,
III.
The room was very still.
The nymphs watched the weavers.
'- ,..,,,---- --,,--
Arachne made a picture of a girl in
her cloth.
OLIVE TREE
II
In Mythland. 83
She was petting a pretty white swan.
Then she made a tower.
It seemed to be of brass.
A shower of golden light was
shining on it.
She made the sea, too.
It was so blue it made one wish
to ride on it.
They were all very pretty.
Minerva made pictures of the gods
and their kind deeds.
When these were done she made an
olive tree.
She had sent this tree to earth to
help the people.
In Mythland.
It did help them very much.
It gave them food and oil.
Near the tree was a butterfly.
It seemed to be alive.
One could almost see it fly.
"See all the rainbow colors," said
the little nymphs.
In Mythland.
Arachne looked at the cloth.
"Who has won, Arachne?" said
Minerva.
Arachne would not say one word.
She tried to run away.
Minerva stopped her.
"Wicked girl," she said, "will you
praise no work but your own?
We are to help people in this
world.
We are not to boast of our own
work.
Do you love no one but yourself?
Then you shall work for no one but
yourself."
86 In M lythland.
She touched Arachne with her
shuttle.
Arachne felt herself grow very small.
She heard a nymph say,
In Mythland. 87
"0, how little Arachne is growing.
What a tiny head she has!
What a big body!
Now her pretty hair is all gone.
Only her bright eyes are left."
They felt so sad.
They went away and left her.
"Let me see you spin," said
Minerva.
Slowly Arachne began.
She took the thread from her own
body.
How fine it was.
She made a little web.
In Jilytliland.
It had no pictures in it, but it was
very pretty.
Minerva went away and left her
spinning.
She spins and weaves to this day.
But -she helps no one.
No one can use the web.
It is too small.
When you see her work you say,
"0, see the spider's web."
MIDAS'
TOUCH.
King Midas was very rich.
He had many bags full of gold.
He kept them in a chest in
cellar.
the
In Mythland.
Every day he would go down and
count them.
One day he said,
"I wish I had
more money,
I wish I had a room full of gold.
A chest full is not very much."
?4-
5
In Mythland. 91
"More money do you want, King
Midas?" a voice said.
King Midas looked up very quickly.
He thought he was alone.
A little man stood beside him.
He had merry eyes and a smiling
face.
He had wings on his cap and shoes.
"Who are you?" said King Midas.
"How did you get in?
Was not the door locked?"
The little man laughed.
"I am Mercury," friend Midas.
So you want more gold, do you?
I will give you one wish.
.2.J
ILa[s
,-J .*t.?'
MERCURY
I
In Mythland.
What would you like?"
King Midas thought a minute.
Then he said, I love gold better
than anything.
Let everything I-touch turn to
gold."
Mercury laughed softly.
"A good wish, friend Midas.
May it make you happy.
Wait until to-morrow.
When the sun rises you shall have
the golden touch."
Then he went away.
94 In Mythland,
II.
The next day came at last.
King Midas woke very early.
He put his hand on the bed.
How happy he was when it turned
to gold.
"O, it is true," he cried.
"I have the golden touch."
He touched everything in the
room.
He had gold chairs and tables.
Gold doors and windows.
And a floor of gold to walk upon.
Then he ran down stairs.
He went into his garden.
In Mythland. 95
"I will have a garden of gold," he
said.
So he touched all the pretty flowers.
All the roses and lilies.
All the pansies and pinks.
And the grass and trees, too.
0, how stiff they looked.
And so bright in the sunshine.
It hurt his eyes to look at them.
Then he went in to breakfast.
Just then he heard some one crying.
His little girl came into the room.
Her eyes were full of tears.
She had a gold rose in her hand.
"Why Marygold," he said.
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