Longago,inalandfaraway,therelivedabeautifulyounggirl.

　　Shewasverysad.Hermotherhaddiedandherfatherhadmarriedagain.Hisnewwifehadtwouglydaughters,EsmereldaandGriselda.

　　Soonafter,herfatheralsodiedandlifeimmediatelychangedforthegirl.

　　"Youwillbeourservant,"saidherstepmother."Youwilldoeverythingwesay."

　　"Youmustsleepinthekitchens,bythefire,"saidthestepsisters.

　　Aftertendingthefire,andcookingandleaning,thegirl'sclotheswereverydirty.Shewascalledtoclearawaydishes.

　　"Therearecindersalloveryourclothes!"exclaimedthestepmother."CindersforCinderella.That'syournewname.Clearthesethingsaway,Cinderella."

　　"Cinderella!Cinderella!"sangEsmereldaandGriselda."Oh,howcleveryouare,Mama!"

　　Cinderellahadtoworkveryhard,asalltheotherservantsweredismissed.

　　Oneday,aninvitationarrivedfromthepalace.

　　"Girls,listentothis,"saidthestepmother.Cinderellawasservingthebreakfast.Shelistenedasherstepmotherreadtheinvitation.

　　"TheKingishavingaball,"shesaid,excitedly."HeislookingforawifeforthePrince!Oh,mydears,thisiswonderful.Hewillprobablychooseoneofyou,butitwillbesuchahardchoicetomake.

　　"AmIinvitedtoo,stepmother?"askedCinderella.

　　"You!Certainlynot!"exclaimedherstepmother."Thethoughtofsuchathing.Ascruffyservantgoingtoaball,whenonlybeautifulladiesareinvited!"

　　"Hah!Hah!"laughedthestepsisters."Beautiful!Thatdoesn'tincludeyou,Cinderella!"

　　"Youmayhelpmytwolovelygirlstogetready,"saidherstepmother.

　　"Oh,"saidCinderella,sadly.

　　"Weshallallhavenewdresses,girls,andweshallgoshoppingtoday.Clearawaythesethings,Cinderella."

　　'Oh,IwishIcouldgototheball,'thoughtCinderella.

　　ThedayoftheballarrivedandthewholedaywasspentpreparingEsmereldaandGriselda.Cinderelladidherbesttomakethesisterslookpretty,butitwasanimpossibletask.

　　Finally,thecoacharrivedtocollectthegirlsandtheirmother.

　　Cinderellawasverytiredandshewanderedbacktothekitchens.

　　"Oh,Ididsowanttogo,"shesighedasshesatdownbythefire.

　　"What'stostopyou?"askedavoice.

　　"Who'sthat?"askedCinderella,lookingaround.

　　"I'mherebythedoor."AstrangewomanwalkeduptoCinderella."Iheardyoutheotherday,wishingyoucouldgototheball.Well,theballisthisevening,andyou'regoing."

　　"Buthow?"askedCinderella."Whatcanyoudo?"

　　"AnythingIwantto,"saidthewoman."I'myourfairygodmother,andI'mheretosendyoutotheball.

　　Shesatdown.

　　"Comenow,"shesaid."Drythosetears.Wehaveworktodo.Ineedalargepumpkin,tworats,twomiceandafrog.Canyoufindthese?"

　　"Yes,"saidCinderella,mystifiedbytherequest.

　　"Offyougo,then."

　　WhenCinderellafoundallthethings,herfairygodmothertookthemalloutside.

　　"Nowforthemagic,"shesaid.Shewavedherhandsandtheairbegantotwinkleandsparkle.Thepumpkinbegantogrowandchange,untilstandingtherewasaglitteringcoach.

　　Themicechangedintotwofinefootmen,thefrogintothedriver,andtheratsintotwobeautifulhorsestopullthecoach.

　　C