THE THREE PORTRAITS

New Zealand Tablet, 10 September 1908, Page 37

THE THREE PORTRAITS

In a convent school in Italy, a very vain and conceited girl was being educated. Nature, or rather God, had endowed her with rare beauty, but instead 6f thanking her Creator for so glorious a gift, because of it she .despised her less- beautfful companions. _- . ""'*'. Times without number had she been reproved for this serious fault, but to ,no purpose. .. Her parents, who fondly loved their, child, .being -anxious for her future welfare, had recourse to a stratagem. ./On her birthday they sent her. three 'Uttle. parcels, on each of which was marked a number. No. i' on one '-parcel,- on another No. ,2; and ori.the-Vother No." 3,. thus indicating the order .in, which they. were to.be opened. On receiving the presents, Mary (for such .was the girl's name) ran hastily to her little room to open the parcels. When

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she opened the first she danced foe: joy,, on seeing herself in- a beautiful hand mirror. Underneath the clear, bright glass was Written :- r As you are.'--: -* .. - ~ _* ' • "• Her overflowing joy being restrained by her desire' to examine the . other parcels, •" she opened the second. What - was ■ her horror on beholding an empty skull — hideous and terrible it appeared to her — a cruel witness -of ,the insignificance of life. She burst into tears as she read the words written under- , neath : * As you will be; '--,-'• How sad for one who has centred all her happiness in this world's pleasures, to think she will one "day come to an end so bitter. The poor girl .was disconsolate, and with great reluctance opened the third parcel. " What a contrast! It- contained a beautiful picture of our Blessed Lady, who smiled upon h,cr. Underneath wjere the words :' As you ought to be.* 'Yes, beautiful Lady! dear Mother Mary !' she exclaimed, drying her tears, ' I will begin to serve her faithfully from this moment, and I shall think. ; more" of that bright Land where true beauty never fades, because it is of the soul and where 'all the saints rejoice forever." And she kept her word.