A _Brother_ and a _Sister_.
There was a _Brother_ and a _Sister_ that happen’d to look in a Glass
both together: The _Brother_ a very Lovely Youth, and the _Sister_ as
hard-favour’d as a Girl could well be. Look ye, (says the Boy) and have
not I a very Good Face now? This the Lass took for a Reproche, as if hers
were not so too. What does this Envious Tit, but away to her Father with
a Tale of her Brother, how Effeminately he Behav’d himself, and that a
Petticoat would become him better then a Sword. The Good Man Kiss’d them
both, and Reconciled the Controversie. My Dear Children, says he, I lay
my Command upon ye Both to look often in a Glass; You Son, to keep a
Guard upon your Self, not to Dishonour the Advantages that Nature has
given ye, with Ill Manners: And you Daughter, (says he) to Mind you of
Supplying the Defects of an External and a Transitory Beauty, with the
more substantial Ornaments of Piety and Virtue.
The MORAL.
_There is not any Accident or Adventure in Nature, that does not yield
Matter and Occasion for Good Counsell: And the Excellency of that
necessary Office lies in the Address of Managing it Pertinently, and
without Reproche._