Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
Ube 11ecklace
Of Urut B

Her parents tried to cure her In
many ways, but In vain. Finally they
decided to take her to the enchanter
Merlin.
The enchanter Merlin lived In a
glass palace. He loved truth. He
knew liars by their odor league of.
When Coralie came toward the castle,
Merlin was forced to burn vinegar to
keep himself from being Ill.
Coralie's mother began to explain
the reason for their coming. But Mer-
lin stopped her.
II know all about your daughter,
my good lady" he said. "She is one
of the greatest liars in the world. She
often makes me ILL.,
Merlin's face looked so stern that
Coralie hid her face under her
mothers cloak. Her father stood be-
fore her to keep her from harm.
DO not fear" said Merlin. 81 am
not going to hurt your little girl.
only wish to make her a present"
He opened drawer and took from
| 1t magnificent amethyst necklace
It was fastened with a shining clasp
Of diamonds.
Merlin put the necklace on Coralie's
neck and said, go in peace, my
friends. Your little daughter carries
with her sure guardian of the
| truth
Then he looked sternly at Coralie
and said, I'm year shall come for
my necklace. Do not dare to take It
off for single moment. If you do,
harm will come to yau!"
ooh, I shall always love to wear
1t! 1t is SO beautiful" cried Coralte
This is the way she came by the
wonderful Necklace of Truth.
The day after Coralie returned
home she was sent to school. AS she
had long been absent, the little girls
crowded round her. There was a cry
of admiration at sight of the neck
lace.
Where did It come from? Where
cid you get it?" they asked.
81 was sick for a long time" re-
piled Coralie. when I got we'll, man.
ma and papa gave me the necklace y
| A loud cry rose from all at once.
/ The diamonds of the clasp had grown
dim. They now looked like coarse
glass.
Eyes, indeed, have been sick,
What are you making such fuss
about?"
At this second falsehood the anne
thysts, in turn, changed to ugly yell
low stones. A new cry arose. Coralie
was frightened at the strange be-
havior Of her necklace.
Fl have been to the enchanter Mer-
lin," she said very humbly.
Immediately the necklace looked as
beautiful as ever. But the children
leased her.
"You need not laugh" said Coralie,
for Merlin was very glad to see US.
He sent his carriage to the next town
to meet us. Such splendid carriage,
with six white horses, pink satin
cushions, and a negro coachman with
powdered hair. Merlin's palace Is all
of jasper and gold. He met us at
the door and led us to the dining
room. There stood long table cover
ed with delicious things to eat. First
of all we ate"
Coralie stopped, for the children
were laughing TILL the tears rolled
down their cheeks. She glanced at
her necklace and shuddered. With
each new falsehood, the necklace had
become longer and longer. till it al
ready dragged on the ground.
"Coralie, you are stretching the
truth" cried the girls.
well, I confess it. We walked,
and we stayed there only five min
utes."
The necklace shrunk at once to its
proper size.
''The necklace-the necklace-where
did it come from?"
"He gave it to me without saying
a word. think"
She had not time to finish. The
| fatal necklace grew shorter and shot
er till it choked her. She gasped for
breath.
"You are keeping back part of the
truth" cried her schoolmates.
"He said-that I was-one Of the
greatest-liars in the world
The necklace loosened about her
neck, but Coralie still cried with
pain.
THAT was why Merlin gave me the
necklace He said that 1t would make
me truthful What fool have been
to be proud Of it,"
Her playmates were sorry for her.
eff I were in your place" said one
of them, 81 should send back the neck
lace Why do you not take it Off"
Poor Coralie did not wish to speak.
The stones, however. began to dance
up and down and to make a terrible
clatter
There is something that you have
not told us" laughed the little girls.
| II like to wear It,
Oh, how the diamonds and amo-
thysts danced, 1t was worse than
| ever
"Tell us the reason you are hiding
"Well, see can hide nothing. Mer-
lin forbade me to take it off. He said
great harm would come If dis.
obeyed."
Thanks to the enchanted necklace
Coralie became truthful child. Long
before the year had passed, Merlin
came for his necklace. He needed it
for another child who told false.
hoods.
/ No one can tell today what has be.
lcome Of the wonderful Necklace OF