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 at all. 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
and birds. The cat says, “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!”
