70

CINDERELLA ;
on,

THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER

==

Tare was once a very rich gentleman who lost his wifes
and, having loved her exceedingly, he was very sorry when she
died. Finding himself quite unhappy for her loss, he resolved
to marry a second time, thinkings by this means he should be as.
happy as before. Unfortunately, however, the lady he chanced
to fix upon was the proudest and most haughty woman ever
known ; she was always out of humour with every one ; nobody
could please her, and she returned the civilities of those about
her with the most affronting disdain, She had two daughters
by a former husband, whom she brought up to be proud and
idle ; indeed, in temper and behaviour, they perfectly resembled
their mother. They did not love their books, and would not
learn to work ; in short they were disliked by everybody. The
gentleman on his side, too, had a daughter, who, in sweetness of
temper and carriage, was the exact likeness of her own mother,
whose death he had so much lamented, and whose tender care
of the little girl he was in hopes to see replaced by that of his
new bride. But scarcely was the marriage ceremony over,
when his wife began to show her real temper ; she could not
bear the pretty little girl, because her sweet obliging manners
made those of her own daughters appear a thousand times the
more odious and disagreeable.

She therefore ordered her to live in the kitchen; and, if ever
she brought anything into the parlour, always scolded her till
she was out of sight, She made her work with the servants in