The Brother and Sister

075. THE BROTHER AND SISTER. A certain man had two children, a son and a daughter. The boy beautiful and handsome enough, the girl not quite so well. They were both very young, and happened one day to be playing near the looking-glass, which stood on the mother's toilet. The boy, pleased with the novelty of the thing, viewed himself for some time, and in a wanton, roguish manner, took notice to the girl, how handsome he was.
She resented it, and could not bear the insolent manner in which he did it; for she understood it (as how could she do otherwise) intended for a direct affront to her. Therefore she ran immediately to her father, and, with a great deal of aggravation, complained of her brother, particularly for having acted so effeminate a part as to look in a glass, and meddle with things which belong to women only.
The father, embracing them both with much tenderness and affection, told them, that he should like to have them both look in the glass every day, “to the intent that you,” says he to the boy, “if you think that face of yours handsome, may not disgrace and spoil it by an ugly temper, and a foul behaviour.”
“You,” says he, speaking to the girl, “that you may make up for the defects of your person, if there be any, by the sweetness of your manners, and the agreeableness of your conversation.” [more info]

The Brother and Sister

3.08. THE BROTHER AND SISTER. Warned by this lesson, often examine yourself.
A certain Man had a very ugly Daughter, and also a Son, remarkable for his handsome features. These, diverting themselves, as children do, chanced to look into a mirror, as it lay upon their mother’s chair. He praises his own good looks; she is vexed, and cannot endure the raillery of her boasting brother, construing everything (and how could she do otherwise?) as a reproach against herself. Accordingly, off she runs to her Father, to be avenged on him in her turn, and with great rancour, makes a charge against the Son, how that he, though a male, has been meddling with a thing that belongs to the women. Embracing them both, kissing them, and dividing his tender affection between the two, he said: “I wish you both to use the mirror every day: you, that you may not spoil your beauty by vicious conduct; you, that you may make amends by your virtues for your looks.” [more info]

The Brother and Sister

3.07. THE BROTHER AND SISTER.
Warn’d by our council, oft beware,
And look into yourself with care.
There was a certain father had
A homely girl and comely lad.
These being at their childish play
Within their mother’s room one day,
A looking-glass was in the chair,
And they beheld their faces there.
The boy grows prouder as he looks;
The girl is in a rage, nor brooks
Her boasting brother’s jests and sneers,
Affronted at each word she hears:
Then to her father down she flies,
And urges all she can devise
Against the boy, who could presume
To meddle in a lady’s room.
At which, embracing each in turn,
With most affectionate concern,
“My dears,” he says, “ye may not pass
A day without this useful glass;
You, lest you spoil a pretty face,
By doing things to your disgrace;
You, by good conduct to correct
Your form, and beautify defect.” [more info]

The Brother and Sister

2.45. THE BROTHER AND SISTER. A certain man had two children, a son and a daughter: The boy beautiful and handsome enough; the girl not quite so well. They were both very young, and happened one day to be playing near the looking-glass, which stood on their mother's toilet. The boy, pleased with the novelty of the thing, viewed himself for some time, and, in a wanton roguish manner, took notice to the girl how handsome he was. She resented it, and could not bear the insolent manner in which he did it; for she understood it (how could she do otherwise) as intended for a direct affront to her. Therefore she ran immediately to her father, and, with a great deal of aggravation, complained of her brother; particularly, for having acted so effeminate a part as to look in a glass, and meddle with things which belonged to women only.
The father, embracing them both with much tenderness and affection, told them, that he should like to have them both look in the glass every day; to the intent that you, says he to the boy, if you think that face of yours handsome, you may not disgrace and spoil it by an ugly temper and a foul behaviour. You, says he, speaking to the girl, that you may make up for the defects of your person, if there be any, by the sweetness of your manners and the agreeableness of your conversation.
MORAL. We often make a false estimate in preferring our ornamental talents to our useful ones. [more info]

Brother and Sister

36. BROTHER AND SISTER.
Twin children: the Girl, she was plain;
The Brother was handsome and vain;
"Let him brag of his looks,"
Father said; "Mind your books!
The best beauty is bred in the brain."
HANDSOME IS AS HANDSOME DOES
[more info]