Cinderella's mother died while she was a very little child, leaving her
to the care of her father and her step-sisters, who were very much older
than herself; for Cinderella's father had been twice married, and her
mother was his second wife. Now, Cinderella's sisters did not love her,
and were very unkind to her. As she grew older they made her work as a
servant, and even sift the cinders; on which account they used to call
her in mockery "Cinderella." It was not her real name, but she became
afterwards so well known by it that her proper one has been forgotten.
She was a very sweet-tempered, good girl, however, and everybody (except
her cruel sisters) loved her.
[Illustration: CINDERELLA AT HOME.]
It happened, when Cinderella was about seventeen years old, that the
King of that country gave a ball, to which all ladies of the land,
and among the rest the young girl's sisters, were invited. And they made
her dress them for the ball, but never thought of allowing her to go
there.
[Illustration: CINDERELLA DRESSING HER SISTERS FOR THE BALL.]
"I wish you would take me to the ball with you," said Cinderella,
meekly.
"Take you, indeed!" answered the elder sister, with a sneer; "it is no
place for a cinder-sifter: stay at home and do your work."
When they were gone, Cinderella, whose heart was very sad, sat down and
cried bitterly; but as she sat sorrowful, thinking of the unkindness of
her sisters, a voice called to her from the garden, and she went out to
see who was there. It was her godmother, a good old Fairy.
"Do not cry, Cinderella," she said; "you also shall go to the ball,
because you are a kind, good girl. Bring me a large pumpkin."
Cinderella obeyed, and the Fairy, touching it with her wand, turned it
into a grand coach. Then she desired Cinderella to go to the trap, and
bring her a rat. The girl obeyed, and a touch of the Fairy's wand turned
him into a very smart coachman. Two mice were turned into footmen; four
grasshoppers into white horses. Next, the Fairy touched Cinderella's
rags, and they became rich satin robes, trimmed with point lace.
Diamonds shone in her hair and on her neck and arms, and her kind
godmother thought she had seldom seen so lovely a girl. Her old shoes
became a charming pair of glass slippers, which shone like diamonds.
"Now go to the ball, my love," she said, "and enjoy yourself. But
remember, you must leave the room before the clock strikes _eleven_. If
you do not your dress will return to its original rags. I approve of
pleasure, but not of dissipation, and I expect that you will show your
gratitude by obeying me."
Cinderella kissed and thanked her godmother. Then she stepped into her
coach and drove off, with her footmen behind, in great style. The Fairy,
when she was gone, returned to Fairyland.
Cinderella was received at the King's palace with great respect. The
Lord Chamberlain bowed low to her, thinking she must be a very great
lady by her dress and carriage, and he showed her at once into the
ball-room.
[Illustration: THE FAIRY GODMOTHER.]
She was so beautiful that everybody looked at her, and wondered who she
was; and the Prince asked her to dance with him, and afterwards would
dance with no one else.
[Illustration: ARRIVAL AT THE PALACE.]
But she made haste to leave a little before the hour fixed, and had time
to undress before her sisters came home. They told her a beautiful
Princess had been at the ball, with whom the Prince was delighted. They
did not know it was Cinderella herself, and she was amused to hear them
admire her grace and beauty, and say that they were sure she was a royal
lady.
The Prince was quite vexed when supper-time came, and he could not find
his beautiful partner, and no one had seen her leave the room. But in
hopes of beholding her again, he persuaded the King to give another
grand ball. As soon as her sisters were gone to it, Cinderella's
godmother arrived.
"You were so good and obedient last time, that I shall let you go out
again," said she to the young girl.
And once more the rat, mice, grasshoppers, and pumpkin (which had gone
back to their original shapes after the first ball) were turned into the
grand carriage and attendants, and Cinderella, in rose-coloured satin
and rubies, went to the royal ball.
Directly the Prince saw her, he asked her to dance, and would have no
other partner, and as he led her past her two unkind sisters, she saw
them look at her dress with envious eyes, and knew that they wished they
were as beautiful, and as well-dressed as she was.
But in the midst of her enjoyment, Cinderella remembered the Fairy's
command, and at half-past ten glided out of the room, and drove home
again. Her sisters found her waiting to undress them in her usual rags,
and kept her up to tell her how beautiful the unknown Princess was, and
how well she was dressed.
Again the Prince was vexed at the sudden disappearance of the beautiful
stranger, and once more he persuaded the King to give a grand State
ball.
"I wonder if Princess Beauty will be there!" said the sisters to
Cinderella. "We must have new dresses, for she is so splendid. She makes
every one look shabby."
[Illustration: CINDERELLA DANCES WITH THE PRINCE.]
Cinderella smiled as she helped them to dress. She was sure the Fairy
would let her go to the ball too. And she was right. Her godmother,
pleased with her obedience, came in good time, and Cinderella, dressed
in blue satin and pearls, went in the same style as before.
[Illustration: CINDERELLA RUNS HOME AND LOSES HER SLIPPER.]
The Prince would scarcely let her out of his sight, and Cinderella, who
was getting a little spoiled by all the flattery she heard, began to
think more of herself and less of the Fairy; so the time stole on, till
glancing up at the clock, she saw it wanted only five minutes to eleven.
At once she darted out of the room, and ran through the palace as fast
as she could go, but as she reached the hall, she lost one of her
precious glass slippers! She did not stop to pick it up, but rushed to
the door. Alas! the clock had struck ELEVEN. She found no coach, only a
pumpkin, and the rat and mice ran quickly away when they saw her; while
all her fine dress turned to rags, and she had to run home alone in the
darkness of the night.
The Prince was very much surprised when he missed Cinderella again, and
leaving the ball, went in search of her. He asked all the attendants,
but no one had seen her, and when enquiry was made of the porter, he
said that no one had gone out of the palace except a poor ragged
beggar-girl.
However, the Prince's search was rewarded by his finding the glass
slipper, which he well knew belonged to the unknown Princess. He loved
Cinderella so much that he now resolved to marry her; and as he felt
sure that no one else could wear such a tiny shoe as hers was, he sent
out a herald to proclaim that whichever lady in his kingdom could put on
this glass slipper should be his wife.
All the great ladies who wished to be a Princess tried to put it on, but
in vain. Cinderella's sisters tried, but could not get it on, and then
Cinderella asked if she might try. They laughed at her; but the Prince,
hearing of her wish, sent for her. She went with her sisters in her poor
dress, but very clean, and at once put on the slipper. Then she drew the
fellow of it from her pocket, and slipped it on her other foot.
The Prince, who had thought the moment he saw her that the poor girl was
very much like the beautiful Princess, was delighted. He insisted on
Cinderella telling him her story, which she did very modestly, and all
listened with wonder.
[Illustration: CINDERELLA TRIES ON THE SLIPPER.]
As her tale ended, the Fairy godmother suddenly entered the room, and
placing her godchild's hand in the Prince's, said:
"Take this young girl for your wife, Prince; she is good and patient,
and as she has known how to submit to injustice meekly, she will know
how to reign justly."
[Illustration: CINDERELLA MARRIED TO THE PRINCE.]
So Cinderella was married to the Prince in great state, and they lived
together very happily. She forgave her sisters, and treated them always
very kindly, and the Prince had great cause to be glad that he had found
the glass slipper.