South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-16
FIRST PRIZE.
BY LeOna Luethjoham, Franklin
School.

School
An interesting story / read is:
The Necklace of Truth"
There was once a little girl named
Pearl. who had a bad habit OF tell
ing untruths. For a long time her
parents did not know this. At last
they found that she very often said
things that were not true.
Now at this time there lived a
wonderful man named Merlin. He
could do such strange things, and
was so very wise. that he was called
a wizard.
Merlin was a great lover OF truth.
For this reason children who told
untruths were of.en brought TO him,
so that he might cure them OF their
"a at.
Let us take our child to the Won
derful wizard" said Pearls father.
And the mother said. Yes, let us
take her TO Merlin. He will cure
her!" So Pearls parents went to
the glass palace where Merlin lived.
When they reached Merlin's palace
the wise old man said. II know
very we'll what is the matter with
your child: she does not love the
truth"
Poor Pearl hung her head with
shame and fear. But Merlin said:
DO not be afraid. am only going
70 make you a present"
Then the wizard opened a drawer
and took from 1t a lovely necklace
with a diamond clasp. This he put
on PEARLS neck, and told her pa
rents to go home happy, for the lit
tie girl would soon be cured.
AS they were going away, Merlin
looked at Pearl and said In a
year from now I shall come for my
necklace. TIL then you must not
dare 20 take il Off"
The next day Pearl went 70 school
When her schoOlmates saw il, they
crowded around her.
"Oh. what a lovely necklace!
Where did you get it, Pearl?'
NV father gave It TO me for a
Christmas present" said Pearl
"Oh, look. look" cried the chill
dren. the diamond has turned
dim!'
Pearl looked down at her neck
lace and saw that the lovely clasp
was turned to coarse glass. Then
she was very much afraid and said.
Il will tell you the truth. The
Wizard Merlin gave It TO me"
At once the diamond was as
bright as before.
The children now began TO laugh
because they knew that only chill
dren who told falsehoOds were sent
20 Merlin
You need not laugh" said Pearl
merlin sent a lovely coach 70 bring
u. IL was drawn BY six white
horses, and was lined with satin"
she stopped. for all the children
were laughing again Then she
looked at her necklace. II hung
down 70 the floor At each false
word she had spoken, the necklace
had stretched out more and more.
You are stretching the truth -
cried the little girls.
Then Pearl confessed that all she
had told them was false. and at once
the necklace changed to its right
size
but what did Merlin say when
he gave II 20 you"
"He said Il was present for a
truthful"
She could not go on speaking. The
necklace became SC short that it
nearly chOked her.
ooh. dear no." sobbed Pearl ''He
said / did not love the truth. nor
speak the truth"
The girls did not laugh now. They
felt sorry for Pearl when they saw
her weeping.
At last she was cured. She saw
how wrong and foolish it is 70 tell
falsehoods
Never again viii I tell lie." said
she and she kept her word
Before the year was ended Merlin
came FOR his necklace. He knew
that Pearl did not need IL now. and
he wanted 81 for another little girl
Since Merlin died. no can tell
what has become OF me wonderful
Necklace Of Truth.