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!”
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