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.
“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!”
