Cinderella

There  was  many  years  ago  a  gentleman  who  had  a  charming  lady  for  his  wife.  They  had  one  daughter  only,  who  was  very  dutiful  to  her  parents.  But  while  she  was  still  very  young,  her  mama  died  to  the  grief  of  her  husband  and  daughter.  After  a  time,  the  little  girl's  papa  married  another  lady.  Now  this  lady  was  proud  and  haughty,  and  had  two  grown  up  daughters  as  disagreeable  as  herself.

So  the  poor  girl  found  everything  at  home  changed  for  the  worse.  But  she  bore  all  her  troubles  with  patience,  not  even  complaining  to  her  father.  And  in  spite  of  her  hard  toil,  she  grew  more  lovely  in  face  and  figure  every  year.  Now  the  King's  son  gave  a  grand  ball,  and  all  persons  of  quality  were  invited  to  it.  Our  two  young  ladies  were  not  overlooked.

Nothing  was  now  talked  of  but  the  rich  dresses  they  were  to  wear.  At  last  the  happy  day  arrived.  The  two  proud  sisters  set  off  in  high  spirits.  Cinderella  followed  them  with  her  eyes  until  the  coach  was  out  of  sight.  She  then  began  to  cry  bitterly.

While  she  was  sobbing,  her  godmother,  who  was  a  fairy,  appeared  before  her.  Cinderella,  said  the  fairy,  I  am  your  godmother,  and  for  the  sake  of  your  dear  mama,  I  am  come  to  cheer  you  up.  So  dry  your  tears.  You  shall  go  to  the  grand  ball  tonight,  but  you  must  do  just  as  I  bid  you.  Go  into  the  garden  and  bring  me  a  pumpkin.

Cinderella  brought  the  finest  that  was  there.  Her  godmother  scooped  it  out  very  quickly,  and  then  struck  it  with  her  wand,  upon  which  it  was  changed  into  a  beautiful  coat.  Afterwards,  the  old  lady  peeped  into  the  mouse  trap,  where  she  found  six  mice.  She  tapped  them  lightly  with  her  wand,  and  each  mouse  became  a  fine  horse.  The  rat  trap  contained  two  large  rats.

One  of  these  she  turned  into  a  coachman,  and  the  other  into  a  postilion.  The  old  lady  then  told  Cinderella  to  go  into  the  garden  and  seek  for  half  a  dozen  lizards.  These  she  changed  into  six  footmen  dressed  in  the  gayest  livery.  When  all  these  things  had  been  done,  the  kind  godmother,  touching  her  with  her  wand,  changed  her  worn  out  clothes  into  a  beautiful  ball  dress  embroidered  with  pearls  and  silver.  She  then  gave  her  a  pair  of  glass  slippers  that  is,  they  were  woven  of  the  most  delicate  spun  glass,  fine  as  the  web  of  a  spider.

When  Cinderella  was  thus  attired,  her  godmother  made  her  get  into  her  splendid  coach,  giving  her  a  caution  to  leave  the  ball  before  the  clock  struck  twelve.  On  her  arrival,  her  beauty  struck  everybody  with  wonder.  The  gallant  prince  gave  her  a  courteous  welcome  and  led  her  into  the  ballroom.  And  the  king  and  Queen  were  as  much  enchanted  with  her  as  the  Prince  conducted  her  to  the  supper  to  the  separatable,  and  was  too  much  occupied  in  waiting  upon  her  to  partake  of.  While  seated,  Cinderella  heard  the  clock  strike  three  quarters  past  eleven,  she  rose  to  leave  the  prince  pressing  her  to  accept  an  invitation  for  the  ball  on  the  following  evening.