Once upon a time... there lived an unhappy young girl. Unhappy she was, for her
mother was dead, her father had married another woman, a widow with two
daughters, and her stepmother didn't like her one little bit. All the nice things,
kind thoughts and loving touches were for her own daughters. And not just the
kind thoughts and love, but also dresses, shoes, shawls, delicious food, comfy
beds, as well as every home comfort. All this was laid on for her daughters. 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 nice rests
and comfort. For she had to work hard all day, and only when evening came was
she allowed to sit for a while by the fire, near the cinders. That is how she got
her nickname, for everybody called her Cinderella. Cinderella used to spend
long hours all alonetalking to the cat. The cat said,

One day, beautiful new dresses arrived at the house. A ball was to be held at
Court and the stepsisters were getting ready to go to it. Cinderella, didn't even
dare ask, "What about me?" for she knew very well what the answer to that
would be:

"You? My dear girl, 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 at the cat.

"oh dear, I'm so unhappy!" and the cat murmured "Miaow".

"Don't be alarmed, Cinderella," said the fairy. "The wind blew me your sighs. 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, the loveliest ever seen in the realm.

"Now that we have settled the matter of the dress," said the fairy, "we'll need to
get you a coach. A real lady would never go to a ball on foot!"

"Quick! Get me a pumpkin!" she ordered.

"Oh of course," said Cinderella, rushing away. Then the fairy turned to the cat.

"You, bring me seven mice!"

"Seven mice!" said the cat. "I didn't know fairies ate mice too!"

"They're not for eating, silly! Do as you are told!... and, remember they must be
alive!"

Cinderella soon returned with a fine pumpkin and the cat with  the mice he
had caught in the cellar.

"Good!" exclaimed the fairy. With a flick of her magic wand... wonder of
wonders! 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.

"I shall present you at Court. You will soon see that the Prince, in whose honour
the ball is being held, will be enchanted by your loveliness. But remember! You
must leave the ball at midnight and come home. For that is when the spell ends.
Your coach will turn back into a pumpkin, the horses will become mice again
and the coachman will turn back into a mouse... and you will be dressed again
in rags and wearing clogs instead of these dainty little slippers! Do you
understand?" Cinderella smiled and said,

"Yes, I understand!"

When Cinderella entered the ballroom at the palace, a hush fell. Everyone
stopped in mid-sentence to admire her elegance, her beauty and grace.

"Who can that be?" people asked each other. The two stepsisters also
wondered who the newcomer was, for never in a month of Sundays, would they
ever have guessed that the beautiful girl was really poor Cinderella who talked
to the cat!

When the prince set eyes on Cinderella, he was struck by her beauty. Walking
over to her, he bowed deeply and asked her to dance. And to the great
disappointment of all the young ladies, he danced with Cinderella all evening.

"What does it matter who I am! You will never see me again anyway."

"Oh, but I shall, I'm quite certain!" he replied.

Cinderella had a wonderful time at the ball... But, all of a sudden, she heard the
sound of a clock: the first stroke of midnight! She remembered what the fairy
had said, and without a word of goobye 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 her slipper and said
to his ministers,

"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! Can't you see?"

Suddenly she broke off, for the fairy had appeared.

"That's enough!" she exclaimed, raising 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,

NEXT STORY..HANSEL & GRETEL