Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-06-05
THE MIRROR.

LIE 1lllbAOOAO
There was once a kingdom where mir
trors were unknown. They had all been
broken and reduced TO fragments by or
der Of the queen, and il the tiniest bit
of looking plnss had been found in any
house she would not have hesitated to
put all the inmates to death with the
most frightful tortures.
Now for the secret OF this extraor-
binary caprice. Tho queen was dread
fully ugly. and she did not wish to be
exposed TO the risk Of meeting her WI
image, and knowing herself to be hide
Gus it was a consolation to know that
other women at least could not zee that
they were pretty.
You may imagine thHtfhe young girls
of the county wero mot ut all satisfied.
What was tie usA9f being beautiful If
you cenld not adlnife yourself?
They might have used the brooks and
lakes for mirrors, but the queen had
3orsseeh thntsa1d had hidden all Of them
under closely Joined fiagstones. Water
was drawn from wells so deep that it
was impossible to see the liquid surface,
and shallow basins must DO used instead
of buckets, because in the latter there
might be reflections.
Such a dismal state Ct affairs, es-
pecially for the pretty coquettes, who
were no more rare in this country than
in othersi
The queen had no compassion, being
well content that her subjects should
suffer as much annoyance from the lack
of a mirror as sho felt at the sight Of
one.
However, in a suburb Of the city there
lived a young girl called Jacinta, who
was a little better off than the rest,
thanks to her sw eotheart, Valentin. For
IL some one thinks yen arc beautiful and
loses no chance to tell you SO he is al
most as good az a mirror.
"Tell me the truth, "-she would say.
''What is the color of my eyes?"
"They are like dewy forgetmenots."
"And my skin is not quite black?'
"You know that your forehead is
whittier than freshly fallen snow, and
your cheeks are like blush roses"
"How about my lips?"
CHERRIES are pale beside them"
"And my teeth, if you please?"
"Grains Of rice arc not as white"
"But my ears-should I be ashamed
of them?''
Eyes, if you would be ashamed of
two little pink shells among your pretty
curls."
And SO on endlessly, she delighted,
he still more charmed, for his words
came from the depth of his heart, and
she had the pleasure Of hearing herself
praised, he the delight Of seeing her. So
their love grew more deep and tender
oveIy hour, and the day that he asked
her to marry him she blushed certainly,
but it was not with anger. But, un-
luckily, the news of their happiness
reached the wicked queen, whose only
pleasure was to torment others, and
Jacinta more than any one else, on az
count Of her beauty.
A little while before the marriage
Jacinta was walking in the orchard one
evening when all old crone approached,
asking for aims, but suddenly jumped
back with a shrek as if she had stepped
ON a toad, crying, Heavens, what do l
seer"
what is the matter, my good wom-
an? What is it you see? Tell me-"
1.-THE ugliest creaturo | over beheld."
Then you are not looking at me-"
said Jacinta, with innocent vanity.
ALAS yes, my poor child, it is you.
have been a long time on this earth,
bHt never have | met any one so hideous
as yonI"
"Whatl Am / ugly?"
"a hundred times uglier than 1 can
tell you"
"But my eyes
''They are a got of dirty gray. but
that would be | hing if you had not
such an outrageous squinSP'
my complexion
''It looks as if you had rubbed coal
dust ON your forehead and checks"
my mouth
at is pale ind withered, like a faded
flower"
"My teeth
IF the beauty of teeth is to DO large
and yellow, l never cav any so beauti-
full as yours"
but, at least, my ears
1hcy uAo eO blB, hO I6l dnu hO his
shapen under your coarse elf locks that
they are revolving. / nm not pretty my
self, but l should die Of shame il min.
were like them. After this last blow
the old witch. having repeated what the
queen had taught her, hobblod of, with
a harsh croak Of laughter, leaving poor
Jacinta dissolved in tears, prone ON tho
ground beneath the apple trees.
Nothing could divert her mind from
her grief. II am ugly-I am ugly T. she
repeated constantly. 1t was in vain that
Valentin assured and treasured her with
the most solemn oaths.
LET me alonel You are lying out Of
pity. / understand it all now. You new
or loved me. You are only sorry for me,
The beggar woman had no interest IN
deceiying me. II is oaly too true--I ann
ugly. ! do not SEQ how you can endure
the sight OF me.
To undeceive her he brought peopl,
from far and near. Every man declared
that Jacinta was created to delight tbs
opaa Even tho woman said aa murh