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The Golden Touch
PART 1
The ancient Greeks told the story of Midas. He was a rich and powerful king who loved gold more than anything else in the world. However, if there was one thing he adoredjust as much, it was Marigold, his daughter. “She is worth her weight in gold,” the king often remarked. At one time, the king enjoyed looking at flowers. He had planted a garden that contained thelargest and the most beautiful roses that any mortal ever saw. But now, if he glanced at the flowers at all, it was only to estimate how much they would be worth if they were made out of gold. Midas spentpart of every day in an enormous room in his palace. That huge chamber, which was filled with gold, was his treasure room. There, the king counted his many bags of gold and let the pieces of goldslip through his fingers. He often whispered to himself, “Oh, Midas, rich King Midas, what a happy man you are.” Then he always added softly, “But how much happier you would be if you had more gold.”One day, Midas was in his treasure room counting his fortune. Suddenly, a long shadow fell upon the heaps of gold. Midas looked up and saw a young man who stood there smiling at him. Midas was certainhe had locked the door, and there was no other entrance to the room. Therefore, the king concluded that his visitor must have very great powers. The stranger looked around the room, then smiled again.“You are a wealthy man, friend Midas,” he said. “I doubt whether any other four walls on earth contain as much gold as you have managed to pile up in this room.” “I have done fairly well--- fairlywell,” admitted King Midas. “But it has taken me my whole life to obtain this much. And there is so much more gold I would love to possess.” “What!” exclaimed the stranger. “Then you are not satisfied?” “Iam not,”said King Midas, shaking his head. “What would satisfy you?” asked the young man. “I am curious to know.” Midas paused and thought for some time. Finally, a really bright idea came to the...