CINDERELLA, OR THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER.

the day of the ball came, to help her proud sisters dress, even
to the arranging of their hair; for they knew she had good
taste in all these matters, although they would not admit it
openly.

At last the time came to start, and the sisters rode off to the
ball, being mean enough at the last moment to jeer at Cinder-
-ella because she was not going. The poor girl retired to her
dismal kitchen, and could not help weeping as she sat there,
thinking over her sisters’ cruelty.

Suddenly she heard a tap at the door, and when she opened
it there walked in an odd-looking little woman, who carried a
wand in her hand. She was a Fairy who had been a great
friend of Cinderella’s mother while she was alive, and had
been chosen as godmother for Cinderella when she was born.
After telling Cinderella who she was, she asked her why she
- had been weeping.

«J—]—should so much have—have liked—” sobbed the
broken-hearted girl, but she could say no more.

«Do you mean, you would like to go with your sisters?”

“Oh! yes, I should,” cried Cinderella.

« Well, well!” said her godmother, ‘ be a good girl, and you
shall go.”

Cinderella soon dried her tears; and when her godmother
said, ‘‘ Fétch me a pumpkin,” she ran and got the largest she
could find. The fairy scooped it hollow, touched it with her
wand, and immediately changed it into a splendid carriage.

Then, seeing a mouse-trap in which were six live mice, she
told Cinderella to open it; and as each mouse ran out, she
touched it with her wand ; and so got as handsome a team of
mouse-colored horses as were ever harnessed together.

Then she made a coachman out of a rat, and six tall footmen