OERELLA

Ces upon a time there lived a rich
man, who had a wife, and one
daughter, a very sweet and pretty girl.
The wife fell sick and died, and, after
a while, the father married again. But
he did not choose wisely this time, for the
lady he married was proud and cross, and
she had.two grown-up daughters, just like herself in all things.

The marriage was no sooner over than the new wife began
to be very harsh toward her step-child, whom she disliked
because she was so much prettier than her own daughters, and
because her good conduct and gentle manners made them
appear more hateful. She made her do all the hard work of
the house; scrub the floor, polish the grates, wait at the
table, and wash up the plates and dishes.

The poor child bore all this without complaint. When her
work was done, she would sit for warmth in a corner of the
chimney, among the cinders; and for this reason, and to show
their contempt for her, the unkind sisters called her Cinderella.

One day the two sisters received an invitation to a ball that
was to be given at the palace of the King, in honor of his son
the Prince, who had just come of age. ae invitation to this
ball being a great honor, the sisters were in high glee, and at
once began making ready to appear there in grand style.

This meant a great deal more work for Cinderella. She had
to do all the sewing and ironing, to starch and plait the ruffles,

to run out three or four times a day to buy things, and, when
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