Cinderella

Once upon a time there was a gentleman who

married, for his second wife, the proudest and

most haughty woman that ever was seen. She

had two daughters of her own, who were, in-

deed, exactly like her in all things. The gentle-

man had also a young daughter, of rare good-

ness and sweetness of temper, which she took

from her mother, who was the best creature in

the world.The wedding was scarcely over, when the step-

mother's bad temper began to show itself. She

could not bear the goodness of this young girl,

because it made her own daughters appear the

more odious. The stepmother gave her the mea-

nest work in the house to do; she had to scour

the dishes, tables, etc., and to scrub the floors

and clean out the bedrooms. The poor girl had

to sleep in the garret, upon a wretched straw

bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms with

inlaid floors, upon beds of the very newest

fashion, and where they had looking-glasses so

large that they [Pg 2]might see themselves at

their full length. The poor girl bore all pa-

tiently, and dared not complain to her father,

who would have scolded her if she had done

so, for his wife governed him entirely.

When she had done her work, she used to go

into the chimney corner, and sit down among

the cinders, hence she was called Cinder wench.

The younger sister of the two, who was not so

rude and uncivil as the elder, called her Cinderella. However, Cinderella, in spite of her

mean apparel, was a hundred times more

handsome than her sisters, though they were

always richly dressed.

It happened that the King's son gave a ball, and

invited to it all persons of fashion. Our young

misses were also invited, for they cut a very

grand figure among the people of the country-

side. They were highly delighted with the invi-

tation, and wonderfully busy in choosing the

gowns, petticoats, and head-dresses which

might best become them. This made Cinder-

ella's lot still harder, for it was she who ironed

her sisters' linen and plaited their ruffles. They

talked all day long of nothing but how they

should be dressed.

"For my part," said the elder, "I will wear my

red velvet suit with French trimmings."

"And I," said the younger, "shall wear my usual

skirt; but then, to make amends for that [Pg 3]I

will put on my gold-flowered mantle, and my

diamond stomacher, which is far from being

the most ordinary one in the world." They sent

for the best hairdressers they could get to make

up their hair in fashionable style, and bought

patches for their cheeks. Cinderella was con-

sulted in all these matters, for she had good

taste. She advised them always for the best, and

even offered her services to dress their hair,

which they were very willing she should do.As she was doing this, they said to her:—

"Cinderella, would you not be glad to go to the

ball?"

"Young ladies," she said, "you only jeer at me; it

is not for such as I am to go there."

"You are right," they replied; "people would

laugh to see a Cinder wench at a ball."

Any one but Cinderella would have dressed

their hair awry, but she was good-natured, and

arranged it perfectly well.

Need Complete Story then share and comment me to upload remaining part of this beautiful story Thankyou!