
In this charming retelling, a wealthy monarch whose heart is ruled by glittering treasure discovers that his love for gold is matched only by his affection for his daughter, Marygold. The story opens in the king’s dim, secret vault, where a solitary sunbeam slips in to illuminate piles of shining coin, and the ruler spends hours admiring his own reflection in a golden bowl. Through his solitary rituals, the reader senses both the splendor of his wealth and the quiet loneliness that lies beneath it.
One day a mysterious, radiant stranger appears at the vault’s doorway, offering a curious bargain that promises to fulfill the king’s deepest desire: to turn everything he touches into gold. As Midas contemplates this tempting promise, the tale gently explores the allure of wealth, the danger of unchecked greed, and the simple, often overlooked joys that a single ray of sunlight can bring.
The narrative’s warm illustrations and lyrical prose make it an ideal listening experience for young listeners, inviting them to reflect on what truly makes a person rich beyond material treasure.
Language
en
Duration
~21 minutes (21K characters)
Series
Little classic series
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Charlene Taylor, Barry Abrahamsen, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2021-09-25
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1870–1922
Known for adapting fairy tales and classic stories for young readers, this early-20th-century writer helped bring familiar tales into classrooms and family reading. Her surviving books suggest a warm, accessible style shaped for children.
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