Part 5 (1/2)

Her mother was dead, and she had to work very, very hard in the kitchen.

She had two older sisters, but they were cross to little Cinderella.

They made her stay among the pots and the kettles and do all the hard work about the house.

Sometimes, to keep warm, she crept in among the cinders.

That is why she was called Cinderella.

One day the sisters came dancing into the house. ”We have been invited to the king's ball,” they cried.

At length the day of the great ball came, and the two sisters rode away in their fine silk dresses.

Poor Cinderella, who had to stay behind, looked at her old ragged clothes, and burst into tears.

”Alas,” she cried, ”why should I always have to stay in the kitchen while my sisters dress in silks and satins?”

Hardly had she spoken when there stood before her a dear little old lady with a golden wand in her hand.

”My child,” she cried, ”I am your fairy G.o.dmother, and you shall go to the ball, too.

First go into the garden, Cinderella, and bring to me the largest pumpkin you can find.”

When Cinderella had done this, the fairy waved her golden wand over the yellow pumpkin.

In a flash, it was not a pumpkin at all, but a beautiful yellow coach.

”Now bring me four white mice, two large ones and two small ones.”

In a moment Cinderella brought a trap full of mice into the room.

The fairy waved her golden wand, and the two largest mice were turned into two snow-white horses.

Two small mice became two men, one a coachman, the other a footman.

”But how am I to go in these clothes?” said Cinderella.

”Ah, let me see,” said the fairy, and she slowly waved her wand over the maiden's head.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Oh, what a change!

The rags tumbled to the floor.

And, what do you think! in their place was a beautiful pink silk dress.

The ugly shoes fell off.