12/29/2023 0 Comments Tales of the mirrorThe good, kind mother fell sick and, although her daughter waited upon her, day and night, with loving care, she got worse and worse, until at last there was no doubt but that she must die. So it happened that the daughter grew up as simple as the mother had been, and knew nothing of her own good looks, or of the mirror which would have reflected them.īut by-and-by a terrible misfortune happened to this happy little family. She never spoke of it, and as for the father he had forgotten all about it. Mindful of her own little passing vanity on finding herself so lovely, the mother kept the mirror carefully hidden away, fearing that the use of it might breed a spirit of pride in her little girl. The joy of their life was their little daughter, who grew up the very image of her mother, and who was so dutiful and affectionate that everybody loved her. Years passed on, and the husband and wife still lived happily. But she considered such a wonderful thing far too precious for everyday use, and soon shut it up in its box again and put it away carefully among her most valued treasures. The wife was charmed with her present, and for a few days could not look into the mirror often enough for you must remember that as this was the first time she had seen a mirror, so, of course, it was the first time she had ever seen the reflection of her own pretty face. In the town everybody has one, although we have not seen them in this country-place before.” “That round piece of metal is called a mirror. “Why, you silly woman, it is your own face that you see!” said the husband, proud of knowing something that his wife didn’t know. “I see a pretty woman looking at me, and she moves her lips as if she was speaking, and-dear me, how odd, she has on a blue dress just like mine!” “What do you see?” again asked the husband, pleased at her astonishment and glad to show that he had learned something while he had been away. Into it the young mother looked with delight and astonishment, for, from its depths was looking at her with parted lips and bright eyes, a smiling happy face. One side was white, like frosted silver, and ornamented with raised figures of birds and flowers the other was bright as the clearest crystal. Look and tell me what you see inside.” He gave to her a plain white wooden box, in which, when she had opened it, she found a round piece of metal. “I have brought you a very pretty thing,” said he to his wife “it is called a mirror. He had much to tell of all the wonderful things he had seen upon the journey, and in the town itself. You may fancy how glad this good wife was to see him come home safe and sound, and how the little girl clapped her hands, and laughed with delight when she saw the pretty toys her father had brought for her. The mother had never been farther from home than the next village, and she could not help being a little frightened at the thought of her husband taking such a long journey and yet she was a little proud too, for he was the first man in all that country-side who had been to the big town where the king and his great lords lived, and where there were so many beautiful and curious things to be seen.Īt last the time came when she might expect her husband back, so she dressed the baby in its best clothes, and herself put on a pretty blue dress which she knew her husband liked. It was too far for the mother and her little baby to go, so he set out alone, after bidding them goodbye and promising to bring them home some pretty present. It happened once, while the little girl was still a baby, that the father was obliged to go to the great city, the capital of Japan, upon some business. I cannot tell you their names, for they have long since been forgotten but the name of the place where they lived was Matsuyama, in the Province of Echigo. They had one child, a little daughter, whom they both loved with all their hearts. A long, long time ago there lived in a quiet spot a young man and his wife.
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