Two little girls seen playing a game-
Were as different as day is from night.
Penelope Priss had all she could want-
Very spoiled, but also quite bright





Her primary thoughts were concern for herself,
For others she had little care.
Of the hundred plus dresses
from which she could choose,
She could never decide what to wear.





But she wouldn't share with her little poor friend,
Who owned just one dress to her name.
Instead she poked fun at the one dress she had,
And made the poor girl feel her shame.





But Paula would share her one dress with her friend
If ever she found her in need,
For in all of Paula's magnanimous heart
Was not an iota of greed.





"You're so ugly that you will never belong
Anywhere in the same room with me.
I am beautiful with my long golden hair,
And you're just as plain as can be."





Paula Plain's feelings could always be hurt
In her eye there was usually a tear.
But never one word condemning her friend
Was anyone ever to hear.





Then a small petite lady appeared to the girls-
A figure of beauty and grace.
With her hands stretching out so they could both see
Her holding a mirror in place.





"I am the Fairy of Truth," she announced,
And my magical mirror will show
To those who dare to peer within
Themselves they may not know.





The mirror reflects you as you are.
Naught can you from it hide.
It sends an xray of your soul
To bare what's real inside.





Penelope pushed little Paula aside
And grabbed for the mirror to see.
"I want to know if all my true beauty
My image will portray of me."





A look of pure horror then lit up her face
As she peered at the image disclosed.
What she saw was a wrinkled old crone peering back-
Straw hair and a wart covered nose.





Then the fairy bade Paula to come forth and look,
But she held back with fear on her face.
"If Penelope's image gave her such a fright,
What's in store there for me in its place?"





The image of sweet little Paula Plain
Began then to appear,
And glowing softly around her head
Was a halo bright and clear.





"An aura of goodness surrounds this girl,"
The Fairy of Truth then declared.
"The mirror shows what she really is like
When her pure naked soul can be bared."





So the moral of this little tale that I tell
Is not about glitter and gold,
For gold can't compare with quality
Found in pureness of the soul