Cinderella
Once upon a time there
lived an unhappy young girl. Her mother was dead and her father had married a
widow with two daughters. Her stepmother didn't like her one little bit. All
her kind thoughts and loving touches were for her own daughters. Nothing was
too good for them - dresses, shoes, delicious food, soft beds, and every home
comfort. But, for the poor unhappy girl, there was nothing at all. No dresses,
only her stepsisters’ hand-me-downs. No lovely dishes, nothing but scraps. No
rest and no comfort. She had to work hard all day. Only when evening came was
she allowed to sit for a while by the fire, near the cinders. That’s why
everybody called her Cinderella.
Cinderella used to spend long hours all alone talking
to the cat. The cat said, “Miaow“, which really meant, “Cheer up! You have
something neither of your stepsisters has and that is beauty.” It was quite
true. Cinderella, even dressed in old rags, was a lovely girl. While her
stepsisters, no matter how splendid and elegant their clothes, were still
clumsy, lumpy and ugly and always would be.
One day, beautiful new dresses arrived at the house. A
ball was to be held at the palace and the stepsisters were getting ready to go.
Cinderella didn't even dare ask if she could go too. She knew very well what
the answer would be: “You? You're staying at home to wash the dishes, scrub the
floors and turn down the beds for your stepsisters.” They will come home tired
and very sleepy. Cinderella sighed, “Oh dear, I'm so unhappy!” and the cat
murmured “Miaow.”
Suddenly something amazing happened. As Cinderella was
sitting all alone, there was a burst of light and a fairy appeared. “Don't be
alarmed, Cinderella,” said the fairy. “I know you would love to go to the ball.
And so you shall!” “How can I, dressed in rags?” Cinderella replied. “The
servants will turn me away!”
The fairy smiled. With a flick of her magic wand
Cinderella found herself wearing the most beautiful dress she had ever seen.
“Now for your coach,” said the fairy; "A real lady would never go to a
ball on foot! Quick! Get me a pumpkin!” “Oh of course,” said Cinderella,
rushing away. Then the fairy turned to the cat. “You, bring me seven mice, and,
remember they must be alive!”
Cinderella soon returned with the pumpkin and the cat
with seven mice he had caught in the cellar. With a flick of the magic wand the
pumpkin turned into a sparkling coach and the mice became six white horses,
while the seventh mouse turned into a coachman in a smart uniform and carrying
a whip. Cinderella could hardly believe her eyes.
“You shall go to the ball Cinderella. But remember!
You must leave at midnight. That is when my spell ends. Your coach will turn
back into a pumpkin and the horses will become mice again. You will be dressed
in rags and wearing clogs instead of these glass slippers! Do you understand?”
Cinderella smiled and said, “Yes, I understand!”
Cinderella had a wonderful time at the ball until she
heard the first stroke of midnight! She remembered what the fairy had said, and
without a word of goodbye she slipped from the Prince’s arms and ran down the
steps. As she ran she lost one of her slippers, but not for a moment did she
dream of stopping to pick it up! If the last stroke of midnight were to
sound... oh... what a disaster that would be! Out she fled and vanished into
the night.
The Prince, who was now madly in love with her, picked
up the slipper and said to his ministers, “Go
and search everywhere for the girl whose foot this slipper fits. I will never be content until I find her!” So the ministers tried the slipper on the foot of every girl in the land until only Cinderella was left.
and search everywhere for the girl whose foot this slipper fits. I will never be content until I find her!” So the ministers tried the slipper on the foot of every girl in the land until only Cinderella was left.
“That awful untidy girl simply cannot have been at the
ball,” snapped the stepmother. “Tell the Prince he ought to marry one of my two
daughters! Can't you see how ugly Cinderella is?”
But, to everyone’s amazement, the shoe fitted
perfectly.
Suddenly the fairy appeared and waved her magic wand.
In a flash, Cinderella appeared in a splendid dress, shining with youth and
beauty. Her stepmother and stepsisters gaped at her in amazement, and the
ministers said, “Come with us Cinderella! The Prince is waiting for you.“
So Cinderella married the Prince and lived happily
ever. As for the cat, he just said “Miaow!”
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