[THE NECKLACE OF TRUTH]
I.
| Merlin | fault | necklace | clasp |
| habit | wizard | untruths | shame |
There was once a little girl named Pearl, who had a bad habit of telling untruths. For a long time her father and mother did not know this. But at last they found that she very often said things that were not true.
Now, at this time—for it was long, long ago—there lived a wonderful man named Merlin. He could do such strange things, and he 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 often brought to him, so that he might cure them of their fault.
"Let us take our child to the wonderful wizard." said Pearl's father.
And the mother said, "Yes, let us take her to Merlin. He will cure her!" So Pearl's parents went to the glass palace where Merlin lived.
When they reached Merlin's palace, the wise old man said, "I know very well what is the matter with your child; she does not love the truth."