CINDERELLA - I Once upon a time there lived a little girl whose name was Cinderella. She was as fair and good as any one could wish. She had a stepmother and two older sisters who were not kind to her. They made her sweep the floors, take up the ashes and cinders, and do most of the hard work. That was why they called her Cinderella, which means a little cinder maid. Now the king of that country was going to give a great ball for his son, the prince. He invited all the people for miles around. Of course Cinderella's sisters were invited. They were proud and happy, for they hoped the prince would dance with them. Cinderella must iron their ribbons and laces, and get their velvet dresses ready. They talked of nothing but the good time they would have. CINDERELLA — II The night of the ball came. Cinderella helped her sisters get ready. When they had gone she sat down by the kitchen fire and cried. She wished she could go to the ball too. Then a wonderful thing happened. All at once a fairy stood before her. She held a wand in her hand. "What is the matter?" said the fairy with a smile. "Do you want to go to the ball?" "Oh, yes!" Cinderella sobbed. 66 Well, I can help you. I am your fairy godmother." The fairy waved her wand and just touched a pumpkin with it. The pumpkin became a beautiful gold coach lined with red satin. She turned six fat mice into horses, a big rat into a coachman, and six lizards from the garden into footmen. Then she touched Cinderella with her wand. The ragged dress of the cinder maid was changed into cloth of gold with rich jewels. On her feet were glass slippers, the prettiest ever seen. "Now," the fairy godmother said, "go to the ball. But remember, if you stay after twelve o'clock, your coach will be a pumpkin again, and you will be a ragged little cinder maid." Cinderella had a very good time. The king and queen thought she was beautiful; and the prince danced with her many times. At a quarter of twelve she remembered what the fairy had told her. So she said good night to the king and queen, got into her coach, and went home. When her sisters came they told her about a beautiful princess who had been at the ball. They did not know the princess was Cinderella. They said no one knew who the stranger was. |