Touching, a.
Affecting; moving; pathetic; as, a touching tale. -- Touch"ing*ly, adv.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Touching, prep.
Concerning; with respect to. Now, as touching things offered unto idols. 1 Cor. viii. 1.
Touching, n.
The sense or act of feeling; touch.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for touching; he lists it under pitiful.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.