Cinderella

　　Onceuponatime...therelivedanunhappyyounggirl.Unhappyshewas,forhermotherwasdead,herfatherhadmarriedanotherwoman,awidowwithtwodaughters,andherstepmotherdidn'tlikeheronelittlebit.Allthenicethings,kindthoughtsandlovingtoucheswereforherowndaughters.Andnotjustthekindthoughtsandlove,butalsodresses,shoes,shawls,deliciousfood,comfybeds,aswellaseveryhomecomfort.Allthiswaslaidonforherdaughters.But,forthepoorunhappygirl,therewasnothingatall.Nodresses,onlyherstepsisters'hand-me-downs.Nolovelydishes,nothingbutscraps.Nonicerestsandcomfort.Forshehadtoworkhardallday,andonlywheneveningcamewassheallowedtositforawhilebythefire,nearthecinders.Thatishowshegothernickname,foreverybodycalledherCinderella.Cinderellausedtospendlonghoursallalonetalkingtothecat.Thecatsaid,

　　"Miaow",whichreallymeant,"Cheerup!Youhavesomethingneitherofyourstepsistershaveandthatisbeauty."

　　Itwasquitetrue.Cinderella,evendressedinragswithadustygreyfacefromthecinders,wasalovelygirl.Whileherstepsisters,nomatterhowsplendidandeleganttheirclothes,werestillclumsy,lumpyanduglyandalwayswouldbe.

　　Oneday,beautifulnewdressesarrivedatthehouse.AballwastobeheldatCourtandthestepsistersweregettingreadytogotoit.Cinderella,didn'tevendareask,"Whataboutme?"forsheknewverywellwhattheanswertothatwouldbe:

　　"You?Mydeargirl,you'restayingathometowashthedishes,scrubthefloorsandturndownthebedsforyourstepsisters.Theywillcomehometiredandverysleepy."Cinderellasighedatthecat.

　　"ohdear,I'msounhappy!"andthecatmurmured"Miaow".

　　Suddenlysomethingamazinghappened.Inthekitchen,whereCinderellawassittingallbyherself,therewasaburstoflightandafairyappeared.

　　"Don'tbealarmed,Cinderella,"saidthefairy."Thewindblewmeyoursighs.Iknowyouwouldlovetogototheball.Andsoyoushall!"

　　"howcanI,dressedinrags?"Cinderellareplied."Theservantswillturnmeaway!"Thefairysmiled.Withaflickofhermagicwand...Cinderellafoundherselfwearingthemostbeautifuldress,theloveliesteverseenintherealm.

　　"Nowthatwehavesettledthematterofthedress,"saidthefairy,"we'llneedtogetyouacoach.Arealladywouldnevergotoaballonfoot!"

　　"Quick!Getmeapumpkin!"sheordered.

　　"Ohofcourse,"saidCinderella,rushingaway.Thenthefairyturnedtothecat.

　　"You,bringmesevenmice!"

　　"Sevenmice!"saidthecat."Ididn'tknowfairiesatemicetoo!"

　　"They'renotforeating,silly!Doasyouaretold!...and,remembertheymustbealive!"

　　Cinderellasoonreturnedwithafinepumpkinandthecatwithsevenmicehehadcaughtinthecellar.

　　"Good!"exclaimedthefairy.Withaflickofhermagicwand...wonderofwonders!Thepumpkinturnedintoasparklingcoachandthemicebecamesixwhitehorses,whiletheseventhmouseturnedintoacoachman,inasmartuniformandcarryingawhip.Cinderellacouldhardlybelievehereyes.

　　"IshallpresentyouatCourt.YouwillsoonseethatthePrince,inwhosehonourtheballisbeingheld,willbeenchantedbyyourloveliness.Butremember!Youmustleavetheballatmidnightandcomehome.Forthatiswhenthespellends.Yourcoachwillturnbackintoapumpkin,t