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CINDERELLA:
OR,
THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER.
There was, many years ago, a gentleman who had a charming lady for hiswife. They had one daughter only, who was very dutiful to her parents.But while she was still very young, her mamma died, to the grief of herhusband and daughter. After a time, the little girl’s papa married anotherlady. Now this lady was proud and haughty, and had two grown-up daughtersas disagreeable as herself; so the poor girl found everything at homechanged for the worse.
But she bore all her troubles with patience, not even complaining to herfather, and, in spite of her hard toil, she grew more lovely in face andfigure every year.
Now the King’s son gave a grand ball, and all persons of quality wereinvited to it. Our two young ladies were not overlooked. Nothing was nowtalked of but the rich dresses they were to wear.
At last the happy day arrived. The two proud sisters set off in highspirits. Cinderella followed them with her eyes until the coach was outof sight. She then began to cry bitterly. While she was sobbing, hergodmother, who was a Fairy, appeared before her.
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[Pg 5]“Cinderella,” said the Fairy, “I am your godmother, and for the sake ofyour dear mamma I am come to cheer you up, so dry your tears; you shall goto the grand ball to-night, but you must do just as I bid you. Go into thegarden and bring me a pumpkin.” Cinderella brought the finest that wasthere. Her godmother scooped it out very quickly, and then struck it withher wand, upon which it was changed into a beautiful coach. Afterwards,the old lady peeped into the mouse-trap, where she found six mice. Shetapped them lightly with her wand, and each mouse became a fine horse. Therat-trap contained two large rats; one of these she turned into acoachman, and the other into a postilion. The old lady then toldCinderella 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 withher wand, changed her worn-out clothes into a beautiful ball-dressembroidered with pearls and silver. She then gave her a pair of glassslippers, that is, they were woven of the most delicate spun-glass, fineas the web of a spider.
When Cinderella was thus attired, her godmother made her get into hersplendid coach, giving her a caution to leave the ball before the clockstruck twelve.
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