narrated by vicente m. hilario, a tagalog from batangas, batangas. he was told the story by his gardener.
there lived once upon a time a young couple of the middle class. the man was a reckless scapegrace and spendthrift; but the woman was a pious, faithful, and virtuous housewife. juan was the husband’s name; maria, the wife’s. one of the worst things about juan was that he spent on another woman the greater part of the money which maria could with difficulty scrape together. this other woman’s name was flora. it is true that she surpassed maria in personal charm, but in real worth flora was greatly maria’s inferior. hence we should not wonder at the fact that maria soon grew distasteful to her husband, and that after a year of married life he should seek to be entertained by a more beautiful woman. he spent most of his time in listless indolence by the side of flora, returning home only to get his meals, which maria prepared with the greatest care. but her efforts were all to no purpose. in vain did maria array herself in her best clothes, and scent herself with the most delicate perfumes: her face remained pitted with small-pox scars, as before.
years came and passed, and juan became more and more harsh to his wife. at last maria sought the aid of st. vicente ferrer. she knelt before the image, and asked the saint to [324]rescue her husband from the pit into which he had fallen. her prayers were soon answered. the image became animated. it touched her face several times, and in a few seconds maria was converted into an extraordinary beauty. her once rough skin was now smooth and velvety. she then went to the window to await her husband’s return. when he arrived an hour later, he was at first unwilling to come up into the house, for he did not believe that the beautiful woman was his wife; but at last she disclosed her true self to him. a great change now came over juan. the once despised wife now began to enjoy the caresses of her husband, who pressed her close to his heart.
days elapsed, and flora began to get uneasy at her home. she wondered why juan did not come to see her. at length she went to his house. after asking maria how she had acquired her beauty, flora decided to try her fortune also. she too knelt before the image of st. vicente ferrer. but, alas! instead of becoming as white and as beautiful as the women of a turkish harem, she became as black and as ugly as the mistress of a kaffir household. her once delicate lips became thick and coarse, and her nose became as long as a monkey’s tail. filled with shame at her appearance, and with a consciousness of her own guilt, she went home, where she pined away and died.
the once homely maria, whose home had rung with laughter by the taunt and ridicule of those who made fun of her ugliness,1 now graced her house with sweet smiles and engaging features, which drew scores of visitors to her home. juan confessed his sins, and underwent penance for his wickedness; and the two lived together in peace and happiness the rest of their lives.
