The Brother and the Sister

The Brother and the Sister

A FATHER had one son and one daughter, the former remarkable for his

good looks, the latter for her extraordinary ugliness. While they were

playing one day as children, they happened by chance to look together

into a mirror that was placed on their mother’s chair. The boy

congratulated himself on his good looks; the girl grew angry, and could

not bear the self-praises of her Brother, interpreting all he said (and

how could she do otherwise?) into reflection on herself. She ran off to

her father, to be avenged on her Brother, and spitefully accused him of

having, as a boy, made use of that which belonged only to girls. The

father embraced them both, and bestowing his kisses and affection

impartially on each, said, “I wish you both would look into the mirror

every day: you, my son, that you may not spoil your beauty by evil

conduct; and you, my daughter, that you may make up for your lack of

beauty by your virtues.”