The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-21
Selected for the sunday Crescentl
FOB THE LITTLE FOLKS.
THE NECKLACE OF TRUTH.


4 There was once q little girl by the name Of
4 Coralie, who took pleasure in telling falsehoods-
Some children think very little OF not speaking
the truth, and q smell fslsehood or great one IN
! case OF necessity that saves them from duty or
| punishment, procures them pleasure or graft
fies heir selflove seems to them the most allow.
| able thing in the world. Now Corslie was one Of
this sort. The truth was thing of which she
| had no idea, and any excuse was good to her,
Y provided il was believed. Her parents were FOR
a long time deceived by her stories; but they
\ at last that she was telling them what was not
II true, and from that moment they had not the
least confidence in anything she said. It's terrible
thing for parents not TO be able to believe their
4 children's words It would be better to have no
4 children. for the habit of lying may lead them in
after years 70 the most shameful crimes, and what
parent can help trembling at the thought that be
= may be bringing his children to dshonor?
y After vsinly trying every means to reform her,
- Corslie's parents resolved to take her to the en-
= chsnter Merlin, who was celebrated at that time
sif tho globe, and who was the greatest friend
Y TO truth that ever lived. For this reason children
4 who were in the habit Of telling lies were brought
TO him from all directions in order that he might
4 cure them. The enchsnter Merlin lived In a glass
n palace the walls of which were transparent and
never In his whole life had the idea Of Disgusting
one Of his actions crossed his mind, Of causing
|. Others to believe what was not true, or even suf-
fering them to believe it by being silent when he
B might have spoken.
4 Coralie's mother with beating heart undertook
to explain the vile disease which had attacked her
y daughter, and blushingly commenced confused
I speech. rendered misty by shame, when Merlin
stopped her short:
al know what is the matter, my good lady, he
said 81 felt your daughters approach long ago.
she In one or the greatest liars In the world and
+ she has made me very uncomfortable
The parents perceived that fame had not de-
ceived them in prasing the skill Of the enchanter
1 and Coralie, 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 her.
Don't be afraid, said Merlin, seeing their ter.
ror; al do not employ violence In curing these
diseases. am only going to make Corae a
beautiful present, which win not displease herr
He opened a drawer and took from it msgnif-
cent amethyst necklace, with DIAMOND clasp of
dazzling luster He put il on Coralies neck, and
Diminishing the parents with AZ friendly gesture
go, good people," said he, land have no more
anxiety; your daughter carries with her a sure
guardian of the truth"
Corslie, flushed with pleasure, was hastily re-
treating, when Merlin called her back.
'ln a year." said he, looking at her sternly,
II shall come for my necklace till that time
forbid you to take it of for single moment: II
you dare TO do SO woe be TO you"
"Oh, ask nothing better than always to wear
il, il is so beautiful"
Now this was none other than the famous Neck
lace Of Truth, which unveiled every species of
felsehood.
The day after Coralie returned home she was
sent to school, AS she had been long absent ali
the little children crowded around her, and there
was general cry Of admiration at the sight of tho
beautiful necklace-"Where did il come from?''
or "Where did you get II ~ was asked on all
sides. Coralie took good care not to say she haa
been to the enchanter Merlin's for that would
have told on her.
+" was sick long time" she said boldly, "aud
when got well, my parents gave me this beautiful
bracelet" loud cry rose all around. The
diamonds in the clasp, which had shone so
turned to coarse gloss. well yes, I've been
sick! What are you making such a fuss
aboutY' At this second falsehood, the Deauti.
ful amethysts changed to ugly yellow stones.
new cry arose from all the children. Coralie,
seeing all eyes on her necklace, looked at it her.
self, and was struck with terror. l have been
to the enchanter Merlin's," said she, humbly, IN
cerstsnding from what direction the blow came
and not daring to persist in her falsehood.
Scarcely had she confessed the truth, when the
necklace recovered its pristine beauty but the
loud laughter around her mortified her till she felt
the need OF saying something to retrieve her repu-
tation.
" You do very wrong to laugh" she said, {" for
ne treated rs with great respect-he sent his car
rage to meet us at the next town. and you have
no idea what splendid carriage 1t was-six white
horses, pink satin cushions, with gold tassels to
say nothing OF the negro coachman, with his hair
powdered, and the three tall footmen behind
When We reached his palace. which was all Jasper
and pearl, he came to meet US, and led us to the
dining room, where stood table all covered with
things you never even heard speak off, The
laughter, which had been suppressed with great
diffculty, here became so noisy she stopped ia
amusement, and casting her eyes on the terrible
necklace shuddered as she saw that, at each story
she told, IT heightened till il was dragging on
the ground. +" You are stretching the truth
said the little girls.
"weIl, confess IL. We went on foot and only
Eno min he
shrank 10 its proper length.
{" The necklsce-where did you get itsu
be gave II TO me without a word" sac had
not time to finish; the fatal necklace grew
shorter and shorter, TIL II choked her terribly.
lyon are keeping back part of the TRUTH
said her schoolfellows.
sne fastened to gasp out: " he said was one
Of the greatest liars-in the world.o
Instantly IL ceased TO choke her bot abe cried
from pain and modification: "That was why he
gave me the necklace. He said il Was the guar.
DIAN OF ruth, and was great fool to be proud
OF IT, Now Pm in 6 fine position"
Her companions felt sorry for her, for thev
were good children, and reelected on how they
would feel If In her place.
You are very good, said one Of them; "nI
we're IN your place, l would take II of What
finders you from sending IL beck?r
foor CoralIe was silent, but at once the atones
ioise. e'0"'
There Is something you have not told ua,,
aid the little girls I'VE would like to hear III
The stones danced worse than ever
Inere Is reason you are hiding from us.u
Wen, since can conceal nothing. he forbade
alamity." s'ee'
50 you can imagine with companion that
urned dull when she did not tell the
ruin, grew longer whenever she added TO
!, shrunk when she subtracted from n ana
snced and clattered when she was silent n CON- ON
cal something, and from which abe could no,
arr soon cured Coralie Of lying, and the an.
nsnter Merlin came after his necklace long be-
re tne year was out, for Coralie was cured OF
cling fasehoods, and was known for being the
ost truthful girl of her town.
nope none OF my little friends need this neck
co 10 teach them TO speak the truth.
bEAY's CANDrEs.-A great many are impressed
TN the idea that domestic candies are mapufac.
lred out Of noxious ingredients, and oonsa.
1ently very injurious to health. This NAV be
)rrect In some instances. hat In reoard a. a.