A certain man had two children, a Son and a Daughter; the Boy very
handsome, and the Girl only moderately so. They were both young, and
happened to be one day 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,
observed to the Girl how handsome he was. She resented it, and could
not bear the insolent manner in which he spoke, for she understood it
(as how could she do otherwise) to be intended as a direct affront to
her. Therefore she ran immediately to her Father, and with a deal of
aggravation, complained of her Brother, particularly of his having
acted so effeminate a part as to look in a glass, and meddle with
things which belonged to women only. The father embraced them both
with much tenderness and affection, and told them that he should
like to have them look in a glass every day: to the intent that you,
says he, addressing himself 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; and that you, speaking to the girl, 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.