Little Cinderella

Little Cinderella, by Anonymous

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Title: Little Cinderella
Author: Anonymous
Release Date: March 1, 2007 [EBook #20723]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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CINDERELLA ***

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[Illustration: LITTLE CINDERELLA]
BROWN, TAGGARD & CHASE, 25 & 29 CORNHILL, BOSTON.
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CINDERELLA.
In former times, a rich man and his wife were the parents of a beautiful
little daughter; but before she had arrived at womanhood, her dear
mother fell sick, and seeing that death was near, she called her little
child to her, and thus addressed her: "My child, always be good, and
bear everything that occurs to you with patience; then, whatever toil
and troubles you may suffer during life, happiness will be your lot in
the end."
After uttering these words the poor lady died, and her daughter was
overwhelmed with grief at the loss of so good and kind a mother.
The father, too, was very unhappy; but he sought to get rid of his
sorrow by marrying another wife; and he looked for some amiable lady
who might be a second mother to his child, and a companion to himself.
Unfortunately, his choice fell on a widow lady, of a proud and
overbearing temper, who had two daughters by a former marriage, both
as haughty and bad-tempered as herself.
Before marriage this woman had the cunning to conceal her bad
qualities so well that she appeared to be very amiable; but the marriage
was scarcely over when her real character showed itself. She could not
endure her amiable step-daughter, with all her charming qualifications;
for they only made her own daughters appear more hateful. She gave
her the most degrading occupations, and compelled her to wash the
dishes and clean the stairs, and to sweep her own rooms and those of
her sisters-in-law.
[Illustration]
When the poor girl had finished her work, she used to sit in the
chimney-corner amongst the cinders, which made her sisters give her
the name of "Cinderella." However, in her shabby clothes Cinderella
was ten times handsomer than her sisters, let them be ever so
magnificently dressed.

The poor girl slept in the garret, upon a wretched straw mattress, whilst
the bed-chambers of her sisters were furnished with every luxury and
elegance, and provided with mirrors, in which they could survey
themselves from head to foot. The amiable creature bore this ill
treatment with patience, and did not venture to complain to her father,
who was so completely governed by his wife that he would only have
scolded her.
It happened that the king's son sent invitations to a ball, which was to
last two nights, and to which all the great people of the land were
invited, the two sisters among the rest. This delighted them extremely,
and their thoughts were entirely occupied in selecting their most
becoming dresses for the important occasion. Poor Cinderella had now
more work to do than ever, as it was her business to iron their linen,
and starch their ruffles. The sisters talked of nothing but preparations
for the ball. The eldest said, "I shall wear my crimson-velvet dress, and
point-lace;" and the younger, "I shall put on my usual dress-petticoat, a
mantle embroidered with gold flowers, and a tiara of diamonds." They
sent to engage the services of the most fashionable hairdresser. They
also called Cinderella to their aid; for she had very good taste, and she
offered, in the most amiable manner, to arrange their heads herself; of
which offer they were only too happy to avail themselves.
[Illustration]
Whilst so occupied, the eldest said, "Cinderella, should you like to go
to the ball?"
"Alas!" said she, "you are ridiculing me. I am not likely to go to the
ball."
"You are right," replied the sister; "people would be amused to see a
Cinderella there."
If Cinderella had been at all unamiable she might have dressed their
heads all awry, for such unkindness; but she returned good for evil, and
did it in the best possible style.

The sisters were in such spirits they could scarcely eat for two days. All
their time was spent before the looking-glass, and more than a dozen
laces were broken in attempts to tighten their waists into elegant
shapes.
At length the long-wished-for evening arrived, and these proud misses
stepped into their carriage, and drove away to the palace.
Cinderella looked after the coach