nce upon a time there lived a gentleman with a daughter. When his wife died, he married again, and his second wife was the proudest and haughtiest woman ever known. She had two daughters. The stepmother immediately took a dislike to her stepdaughter. The girl was forced to perform the dirtiest and hardest work in the house – scrubbing pots, mopping floors and cleaning rooms.
Every evening when the work was finished, the poor girl went to a corner by the fireplace and sat there on a box of cinder, so her stepsisters called her Cinderella. One day the prince of the country gave a grand ball. The most important men, their wives and daughters were invited. Poor Cinderella spent all day helping her stepmother and stepsisters get dressed, and after they left for the palace, she burst into tears.
Suddenly there appeared a fairy – Cinderella’s godmother. When she found out why Cinderella was so upset, she decided to help her. The fairy godmother turned a pumpkin into a gilded carriage, mice into beautiful carriage horses, and Cinderella’s old clothes into a wonderful ball gown.
Then she gave Cinderella a lovely pair of glass slippers and warned her: “Go to the ball, but remember: at midnight the magic will end!� Cinderella arrived at the palace. The prince was told of the beautiful stranger, and he ran out to meet her. He gave Cinderella his hand and led her into the hall, where well dressed guests were already dancing. As soon as Cinderella appeared in the hall, the music stopped. Everyone gazed at the unknown beauty.
“Oh, how lovely she is!� whispered ladies and gentlemen. The prince seated his guest in the place of honor. Then the music began to play, he approached her and invited her to dance. Cinderella danced so lightly and gracefully that all admired
her even more than before. After the dancing, refreshments were served. But the prince could not eat. He could not take his eyes off the beautiful girl. Cinderella was so happy that she forgot her fairy godmother’s warning.
Suddenly the clock began to strike midnight. Cinderella ran out of the room faster than a doe. The prince rushed after the beautiful girl, but she was gone. Only a small glass slipper was left on the stairs. Meanwhile, Cinderella tired and out of breath, ran home. She no longer had her coach or her horses or her wonderful dress.
The next day messengers of the prince announced to everyone:
“The girl whose foot can fit into the glass slipper will marry the prince.�
All the girls of the kingdom tried the slipper on, but it was too tight for them. Finally it was the stepsisters’ turn to push their luck. Oh, how they tried to pull the little slipper onto their big feet! But it didn’t fit even the tips of their toes.
Suddenly the court messenger noticed a pretty girl standing modestly at a distance. He turned to her. “Allow me to try your foot, miss!� When he put the shoe on Cinderella, everyone froze in astonishment: it fits perfectly! The girl was then taken to the royal palace. A few days later the prince and Cinderella were married and they lived happily ever after!