Cinderella

A long, long time ago, there was a kind little girl named Cinderella. But her family called her "Cinder Girl."

Why? Because she always worked in the kitchen. The ashes from the stove and coal made her all dirty, like a little gray cat!

Cinderella lost her mother when she was very young. Her father remarried and brought home two new sisters.

Oh no, her new mother and sisters were very mean to her! They wore pretty dresses and ate yummy snacks, but they made Cinderella wear old clothes and do lots of chores: sweeping, cleaning the windows, lighting the fire, cooking...

From sunrise until the stars came out, she worked so hard. When she was exhausted, she would curl up by the warm stove and take a little nap.

Cinderella was very lonely. She had a secret friend—a little hazel tree by her mother's grave in the yard!

She often went there to whisper to the tree and shed a few little tears.

Guess what? One day, the magical tree understood her!

A little white bird flew to her, landing on a branch. It chirped a song to comfort her, saying, "Don’t be sad, don’t be sad!"

The town suddenly became very lively! Boom, boom, boom—the drums were being beaten!

The prince was holding a grand ball and invited all the girls to dance!

Her two sisters were so excited. They searched everywhere for the shiniest dresses and shouted, "Cinder Girl! Come here! Help us with our hair! Sew this flower on! Tie our shoelaces tight!"

Cinderella was spinning around, helping them. As she watched her sisters flutter out the door like butterflies, she wished she could go and see the sparkling palace!

The house was empty. Only Cinderella was left. She ran to the little hazel tree, and tears fell from her eyes.

"Little white bird, little white bird, I want to go to the ball too…" she whispered.

Flap, flap! The little white bird really came flying!

It flew around Cinderella three times. With a flap of its little wings—whoosh! Something magical happened!

Cinderella's dirty old clothes disappeared! She was wearing a dress made of moonlight, sparkling brightly!

On her feet were shiny glass slippers, as clear as pure drops of water. When she walked, they made a lovely "ding, ding" sound!

"Go now, dear Cinderella!" chirped the bird. "But remember, when the clock strikes midnight, you must hurry home!"

Boom! A golden pumpkin carriage appeared at the door!

Cinderella jumped into the carriage in surprise. The wheels rolled, and off they sped toward the palace!

The ball was so beautiful! The lights twinkled like stars, and the music flowed like a little stream.

When Cinderella walked in, everyone gasped in surprise!

The prince saw her immediately. It was like he was magnetically drawn to her. He only wanted to dance with her.

They spun and danced. Cinderella's glass slippers left sparkling little footprints on the floor.

Time flew by! Suddenly—"Dong! Dong! Dong!" The clock struck midnight!

"Oh no!" Cinderella suddenly remembered the bird's words!

She ran like a startled deer, turning and rushing away. She ran so fast that with a soft "thud," one of her glass slippers fell from the stairs. She didn’t even notice!

The prince picked up the tiny glass slipper, holding it like a treasure. "I must find this beautiful girl!" he said.

He ordered the guards to have every girl in the country try on the magical slipper.

The slipper arrived at Cinderella's house! Her two sisters hurried out.

The older sister squeezed and squeezed, but her toes hurt. The shoe was still too small!

The younger sister shoved and shoved, her face turning red, but the shoe still wouldn’t fit!

It was like the shoe was talking: "No, no! It's not her!"

At that moment, quiet Cinderella walked out.

She gently slipped her little foot into the glass slipper—hey? It fit perfectly, not too big, not too small!

It was just like her little foot returning to its cozy little home

The prince was so happy. "Ah! I’ve finally found you! My ball princess!"

Cinderella left the dusty kitchen, and she lived happily ever after with the prince in the palace.

And the little white bird? It often flew to the highest tower of the palace, singing the happiest songs!