The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-21
Selected for the sunday Crescent]
ZOE THE LlTTLE FoEKs.
THE NECKLACE OF TRUTH.


Corslie. who took pleasure in telling falsehoods.
Some children think very little Of not speaking
the truth, and q small fslsehood or great one in
case OF necessity that saves them from q duty or
punishment, procures them pleasure or graft
fies their self-love, seems to them the most allow.
able thing in the world. Now C0rslie was one Of
this sort. The truth was 9 thing Of which she
had no idea, and any excuse WIS good to her,
provided it was believed. Her yarents were Tor
long time deceived by her storsss; put they saw
at Last that she was telling thee. what was not
true, and from that moment t,ey had not the
least confidence in anything she sAsd Its terrible
thing for parents not to be able TO believe their
children's words. II would be better to have no
children. for the habit Of lying nsy LEAD them ~
after years 70 the most shameful grimes, and what
parent can help trembling at tka thought that be
may be bringing his children toSiishonor
After ysinly trying every means to reform her,
Coralie's parents resolved to tase her to the en-
chBnter Merlin, who was celebfssted at that time
over sii globe, and who tns greatest friend
to truth that ever lived. For this reason children
who were in the habit of telling Mss were brought
to him from all directions in orter that he might
cure them. The enchsnter Merlin lived in glass
palace, the walls of which were. transparent, and
never In his whole life had the Yea OF Disgusting
one of his actions crossed his MAD or Of causing
Others to believe what was not true, or even SUI
fering them to believe it BY beisg silent when he
might have spoken.
Coralies mother with beating heart undertook
to explain the vie disease which had attacked her
daughter, and blushingly commenced q confused
speech. rendered misty By shs'ne, when Merlin
stopped her short:
al know what is the matter, ms good Iady.D he
said 81 felt your daughters approach long ago.
She il one OF the greatest liars In the world and
she has made me very uncomfortable
The parents perceived that fame had not de-
ceived them in praising the skill Of the enchanter
and COrae, covered with confusion, knew not
whore 10 hide her head. She took refuge under
her mothers apron who sheltered her as well as
she could, terrified at the turn affairs were taking
while her father stood before her TO protect her
in case Of danger. They were anxious that their
daughter should be cured, but they wished her
cured gently, and without hurting hqr.
Don't be afraid, said Merlin, Selling their ter.
ror; 81 do not employ violence IN! curing these
diseases. am only going to make Coraie a
beautiful present, which will not dsplesse herr
He opened drawer and took from it marnif.
cent amethyst necklace, with q diamond clasp of
dazzling luster He put it on Corale's neck, and
Go, good people," said he, "and have no more
anxiety; your daughter carries with her a sure
guardian of the truth"
Coraie, flushed with pleasure, was hastily re-
treating, when Merlin called her back.
''ln a year." said he, looking'at her sternly.
- shall come for my necklace j till that time
for bid you TO take it of for single moment IL
you dare to do SO woe be to you.T
"0h. ask nothing better than always to wear
Now this was none other than the famous Neck
ace Of Truth, which unveiled every species Of
alsehood.
The day after Coralie returned home she was
ent to school, AS she had been long absent, all
he little children crowded around her, and there
vas general cry Of admiration at The sight of tho
beautiful necklace-"Where did ii come from? iy
II where did you get It ?" wsa asked on all
ides. Coralie took good care not 20 say she had
AVE told on her.
al was sick a long time" she sail boldly, sand
vhen got well, my parents gave me this beautiful
BRACELET" A loud cry rose all around. The
rightly, had at once grown dim, and were
urned to coarse gloss. - Well! yes, I've beea
lick! What are you making such a fuse
.boutT At this second fslseb9od, the Deauti-
al amethysts changed 70 ugly yellow stones.
eeing all eyes on her necklace, looked at it her.
elf. and was struck with terror. 81 have been
o the enchanter Merlin's," said she, humbly, un-
erstanding from what direction the blow came
nd not daring TO persist in her falsehood.
scarcely had she confessed the truth when the
ecklace recovered its pristine beauty, but the
bud laughter around her mortified her till she felt
he need OF saying something to retrieve her repu-
alton.
"You do very wrong to laugh" she said " for
70 treated rs with great respect--he sent his car
isge to meet us at the next town, and you have
70 idea what splendid carriage IL was-sx white
orses, pink satin cushions, with gold tassels, to
owdered, and the three tall f3otmen behind.
When We reached his palace, which was all jasper
nd pearl, he came TO meet US, anS led US TO the
lining room, where stood q table 81 covered with
hings you never even heard speak off, The
3ughter, which had been suppressed with great
iffculty, here became so noisy; abe stopped Ia
mazement, and casting her eyes on the terrible
ecklace, shuddered as she saw that, at each story
be told, 1t lengtbened till now il was dragging on
he ground. You are stretching the TRUTH
"Wel, confess It. We went Gu foot and only
taid five minutes" The necklace instantly
hrank TO its proper length.
" The necklsce-where did you:get it!n
he gave IL TO me without word" sac had
OF time to finish; the fatal necklace grew
horter and shorter. TIL Il choke6 her terribly
=. fou are keeping back part of the truth"
sne FASTENED TO gasp out: =" He said was one
the greatest liars-in the worl9.n
Instantly 1t ceased to choke her; bot abe cried
'oin pain and modification: "Thst was WHY he
ave me the necklace. He said Il was the guar.
IAN oil ruth, and was great fool to be proud
II. Now Pm in fine pusition.n
her companions felt sorry for her, for they
ere good children, and reelected on how thew
ould feel If in her place.
on are very good" ssid one of them;"RL
ere IN your place, would take Il or What
nders you from sending IL back -
Poor Coralie was silent. but at once the stones
sgan to dance NJ and down and make O great
" There is something you have not told us,,
10 the little girls; I'VE would like to hear it.r
The stones danced worse than ever.
:. nnere Is reason you are hiding from us.u
" well, since can conceal nothing, he forbade
to take it of under penalty of some great
50 you can imagine with companion that
rned dull when she did not tell the
nth, grew longer whenever she added 10
snrunk when she subtrscted from il. ana
need and clattered when she was silent 10 con.
al something, and from which she coud NOT
n, soon cured Coralie of lying. and the en-.
enter Merlin came after his necklace long be-
e tne year was out, for Corslie was cured of
ing faisehoods, and was known for being the
.st truthful girl Of her town.
nope none OF my little friends need this neck
% 10 teach them TO speak the truth.
oLAY's CASDEs.-A great many are impressed
tn the idea that domestic candies are manufac.
'ed out OF noxious ingredients, and oonss.
emily very injurious to health. This NAV ba