The History of Cinderella, or, The little glass slipper (1852)/The History of Cinderella, or, The little glass slipper

THE HISTORY

OF

CINDERELLA;

OR THE

LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER.

———

There was once a very rich gentleman who lost his wifo; 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, thinking by this means he should be as happy as before. Unfortunately, however, the lady ho chanced to fix upon was the proudest and most haughty woman ever known; she was always out of humour with every ono; 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 every body.

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, beforo his wife began to show her real temper; she could not bear the pretty little girl, because her sweet obliging manners made thoso of her own daughters appear a thousand times the more odious and disagreeablo.

She therefore ordered her to live in the kitchen; and, if ever she brought any thing into the parlour, always scolded her till she was out of sight. She made her work with the servants, in washing the dishes, and rubbing the tables and chairs: it was her place to clean madam's chamber, and that of the misses her daughters, which was all inlaid, had beds of the newest fashion and looking-glasses so long and broad, that they saw themselves from head to foot in them; whilo the little creature herself was forced to sleep up in a sorry ⟨garret⟩ upon a wretched straw bed, without curtains, or ⟨anything⟩ to mako her comfortable.

The poor child boro all this with the greatest patience, not daring to complain to her father, who, she feared would only reprove her, for she saw that his ⟨wife⟩ governed him entirely. When she had dono all her work she used to sit in the chimney corner among the

cinders; so that in tho house she went by the name of Cinderbroech: the youngest of tho two sisters, however, being rather moro civil than the eldest, called her Cinderella. And Cinderella, dirty and ragged as she was, as ofton happens in such cases, was a thousand times prettier than her sisters, dressed out in all their splendour.

It happened that the king's son gave a ball, to which he invited all the persons of fashion in the country: our two misses wero of the number; for the king's son did not know how disagreeable they wero; but supposed, as they were so much indulged, that they were extremely amiable. He did not invite Cinderella, for ho had never seen or heard of her.

The two sisters began immediately to be very busy in preparing for the happy day; nothing could exceed their joy; every moment of their timo was spent in fancying such gowns, shoes, and head-dresses as would set them off to the greatest advantage. All this was new vexation to poor Cinderella, for it was she who ironed and plaited her sisters' muslins. They talked of

nothing but how they should be dressed. "I," said the eldest, "will wear my scarlet velvet with French trimming." "And I," said the youngest, "shall wear tho same petticoat I had made for tho last ball: but then to mako amends for that, I shall put on my gold muslin train, and wear my diamonds in my hair; with these I must certainly look well." They sent several miles for the best hair-dresser that was to be had, and all their ornaments were bought at the most fashionable shops.

On the morning of the ball they called up Cinderella to consult with her about their dress, for they knew she had a great deal of taste. Cinderella gavo them the best advice she could, and even offered to assist them in adjusting their head-dresses; which was exactly what they wanted, and they accordingly accepted her preposals.

While Cinderella was busily engaged in dressing her sisters, they said to her, "Should you not like, Cinderella, to go to the ball?" "Ah!" replied Cinderella, "you are only laughing at mo; it is not for such as I am to think of going to balls." "You are in the right," said thoy: "folks might laugh indeed to see Cinderbreech dancing in a ball-room."

Any other than Cinderella would have tried to make the haughty creatures look as ugly as she could; but the sweet tempered girl, on the contrary, did every thing she could think of to make them look well.

The sisters had scarcely eaten any thing for two days, so great was their joy as the happy day drew near. More than a dozen laces were broken in endeavouring to give them a fine slender shape, and they were always beforo the looking-glass.

At length the long wished-for day of the ball arrived, and these proud misses stepped into a beautiful carriage, attended by several servants in handsome liveries, and drove away to the city.

Cinderalla followed the coach with her eyes as far as she could see, and then returned to the kitchen in tears, where, for the first time, she bewailed her hard and cruel degradation. She continued sobbing in tho corner of the chimney until a noise in the kitchen roused her, and sho looked up to see what had occasioned it. Hor surprise was great, indeed, to see a littlo curious-looking old woman, very antiquely dressed; in her right hand she carried a wand, and in the other sho held a crutch to support herself.

Cinderella thought that her eyes had deceived her, as she had not seen this droll personago before; but tho old woman, with a good-natured smile in her countenance, approached noarer, and thus accosted her:-

"My dear Cinderella, I am your godmother, and, knowing the desire you have to go to this fine ball, I am come for tho purpose of gratifying yeur wishes; therefore, dry up yeur tears, and, as you aro a good girl, I will furnish yeu with an equipage suitablo to your merit."

Cinderella then remembered that she had heard her father and mother often talk of her godmother, and that sho was one of those good Fairios who interest themselves in the welfaro of all the children to whom they stand sponsors, and this recollection rovived her spirits.

Tho Fairy took Cinderella by tho hand, and having led her out to a retired spot, said, "Now, my dear, you must go into the garden and bring mo a pumpkin." Cinderella almost flew to executo her commands, and returned with one of tho finest she could meet with. Her godmother took tho pumpkin, and scoeped out the insido of it, leaving nothing but the rind; she then struck it with her wand, and it instantly becamo one of the most elegant gilt coaches that over was seen.

She next desired Cinderella to go to the pantry for ⟨the⟩ mouse-trap. She did so, and found six little mice alive in the trap, which sho brought to tho Fairy, who ⟨requested⟩ her to lift up tho door very gently, so that ⟨only⟩ one of them might go out at a time.

Cinderella raised tho trap-door, and, as tho mice ⟨came⟩ out one by one, a touch of tho Fairy's wand transformed them into beautiful carriago horses.

"Now, my dear girl," said tho Fairy, "here you havo a coach and horses much handsomer than your ⟨sisters⟩, to say the least ef them; but, as we have neither got a postilion nor a coachman to take care of them, run quickly to the stable, where the rat-trap is placed, and bring it to me."

Cinderella soon returned with the trap, in which there were two large rats. The Fairy touched them

both with her wand, and immediately the one was changed into a handsome postilion, and the other into a fine jolly-looking coachman.

Her godmother then said, "My dear Cinderella, you must go to the garden again before I can complete your equipago: when you get there, keep to the ⟨right⟩ side, and close to tho wall, you will see the watering-⟨pole⟩ standing; look behind it, and there you will find six lizards, which you must bring to me immediately."

Cinderella flow to the garden, and found the six lizards, which sho brought to the Fairy. Another touch of the wonderful wand soon converted these animals into six spruco footmen, in dashing liveries, who immediately jumped up behind the carriage, and with ⟨as⟩ much agility as if they had been accustomed to ⟨do⟩ nothing elso all their lives.

The coachman and postilion having likewise takon their places, tho Fairy said to Cinderella, "Well, ⟨my⟩ dear girl, is not this as fino an equipage as you could dosire to go to the ball with? Tell me, now, are you pleased with it?"

"O yes, my dear godmother," replied Cinderella and then, with a good deal of hesitation, added, "but how can I make my appearance among so many fine-dressed people in these mean-looking clothes?"

"Give yourself no uneasiness about that, my dear," said the Fairy, with a good humoured smile; "the most laborious part of our task is already aecomplished, and it will be hard if I cannot make your dress correspond with your equipage."

On saying this, she touched Cinderella with her magic wand, and her clothes were instantly changed into the most magnificent apparel, ornamented with the most costly jewels that ever wero beheld. The Fairy took from her poeket a most beautiful pair of elastic glass slippers, which sho caused Cinderella to put on, and then desired her to get into the carriage with all expedition, as the ball had already commenced.

Cinderella instantly stepped into tho chariot, and her godmother, before she took leave, strictly charged her on no account whatever to stay at the ball aftor tho clock had struck twelve; and then added, that, if sho stopped a single moment beyond that time, her fino

coach, horses, coachman, postilion, footmen, and fine apparel, would all return to their original shapes of pumpkin, mice, rats, lizards, and mean-looking elothes.

Cinderella promised most faithfully to attend to every thing that tho Fairy had montioned; and then, quite overjoyed, drovo away to the palace.

The arrival of so splendid an equipage as Cinderella's, could not fail to attract general notice at the palace; and information having reached the king's son, that ⟨a⟩ beautiful young lady, evidently some princess, was ⟨in⟩ waiting, he hastened to the door, handed her eut of ⟨the⟩ carriage, and led her into the ball-room.

Cinderella no sooner appeared than every one ⟨was⟩ silent; both the dancing and the music stopped, ⟨and⟩ overy body was employed in gazing at the ⟨uncommon⟩ beauty of this unknown stranger: nothing was ⟨heard⟩ but whispers of "How handsome sho is!" The ⟨king⟩

himself, old as he was, could not keep his eyes from her, and continually repeated to the queen, that it was a long timo since he had seen so lovely a creature. The ladies endeavoured to find out how her clothes wero mado, that they might get some of tho same pattern for themselves by the next day, should they be lucky enough to meet with such handsome materials, and such good work-people to make them.

The king's son conducted Cinderella to one of the most distinguished seats, and, placing himself by her side, begged she would allow him to bring her some fruit or jellies. These she refused with great politeness, and he then requested to have the honour of dancing with her. Cinderella gavo a smiling consent, and the delighted prince immediately led her out to the centre of the ball-room.

The music struck up, and the dance commenced; but if the beauty, elegant figure, and the splendour of Cinderella's dress, had before drawn the attention and admiration of every person in tho room, the astonishment which was excited by her dancing it is impossible to describe. Tho gracofulnoss of all her attitudes, and the airy lightness with which she moved, drew forth a general murmur of admiration, which, as the prince lod her off, changed into tho loudest acclamations of applause.

A magnificent collation was served up, consisting of most delicious fruits, confectionary, and wines; but so much was the young prince engaged in attending to Cinderella, that he did not eat one morsel during the wholo of the evening.

Cinderella was seated near her sisters, to whom she frequontly spoke, and gavo them a part of the fine delicacies which she had received from the prince; but they entertained not the slightest suspicion who she was.

During her conversation with them, Cindorella heard the clock strike eleven and throe quarters, and she immediately rose, took a hurried leave of them, and returned home in her carriago.

On ontering the houso, she found her godmother waiting, to whom sho related all that had taken place at the ball, and thanked her a thousand times for the pleasuro she had enjoyed. She then told the Fairy, there was to bo another ball on tho following evening, to which tho prince had given her a very pressing invitation, and modestly signified the happiness it would afford hor to be present on that occasion.

Her godmothor had just promised to gratify her wishes, when a loud knocking announced the arrival of her sisters.

On their entrance, Cinderella, whe pretended te be just awakened out of a sound sleep, fell a rubbing her eyes, and yawned out, "O dear, how very late you

have stopped! I thought you would never have come home."

"Had you been at tho ball," said ono ef the sisters, "you would not have been so sleopy; for tho most beautiful and handsome princess ever beheld came thore, who paid us great attention, and gave us a part of the delicacies which tho prince had presented to her."

It was with difficulty that Cinderella could refrain from laughing; but she concealed her mirth, and inquired the name of the princess. They replied, that nobody know her.

Cinderella said, with a smile, "How very beautiful she must be! and how fortunato you were in seeing her! O, if I could only get ono peep at her! Dear Miss Charlotto, will you lend me ono of your old gowns, that I may go to the next ball, and get a sight of this beautiful lady?"

"Do you really think I am so mad as to lend my gowns to a cinderwench?—No, I am not such a fool; so, go and mind your own business, and leave balls and dresses to your superiors!"

Next ovening the two ladies went again to the ball; and Cinderella soon followed them, but dressed in a far more magnificent style than formerly.

The prince, who was quite delighted to see her again, did net leave her side the whole evening.

Cinderella was so much taken up with the dancing and the civilities of the young prince, that the evening passed away before she was aware; and the clock struck twelve when she supposed that it could scarcely bo eleven. Alarmed, she sprung from her seat, and almost flow out of the ball-room.

The prince pursued her, which made Cinderella run tho faster, and, in the hurry, she dropped one of her glass slippers, which he picked up.

Fatigued and breathless, it was with difficulty that Cindcrella reached home, in her old clothing, without coach, attendants, or any of her grandeur, except the romaining glass slipper, which she carefully put in her pocket.

The prince, who had lost sight of Cinderella when ho stooped to lift up the slipper, inquired at tho guards if they had seen a magnificent princess pass through tho palace gates; but they said, that no one had gone out except a poor beggar girl.

When the sistors of Cinderella came homo, she inquired, if they had been as well amused as at the former ball, and if the boautiful princess had been thero? They said sho had; but, as the clock struck twelve, sho flew out of the ballroom, and in the haste, had dropped one of her fine shaped glass slippers; that the king's son having found the slipper, did nothing but admire it during the remainder of the ball, and every person said he was violently in lovo with the beautiful princess.

A few days after the ball, the prince caused it to ⟨be⟩ proclaimed, that he would marry the lady whom ⟨the⟩ slipper fitted, and he sent one of the principal officers ⟨of⟩ his household round all the ladies of his court. ⟨The⟩ slipper was first carried to the princesses and ⟨duchesses⟩ and then to the other ladies of inforior rank; but ⟨finding⟩ no one it would fit, ho roturned to the prince with ⟨an⟩ account of his bad success.

The prince having again ordered him to go round ⟨the⟩ other ladies in his dominions, it was at last brought ⟨to⟩ the two sisters, who used every exertion to squeeze ⟨on⟩ tho slipper, but all to no purpose.

Cinderella, who was present during the trial, knowing hor slipper, said, with a smile, "Pray, Sir, may ⟨I⟩ be allowed to try it on?" The two sistors burst out ⟨into⟩ laughter, and said rudely, "Very likoly, indeod, that ⟨it⟩ will fit your clumsy foot."

The officor, seeing that Cinderella was remarkably beautiful, desired her to try it on. Cinderella, sitting down, put it on her foot with the greatest ease.

The two sisters were astonished at soeing it fit so very exactly; but thoy were much more astonished when she pulled its fellow from her pocket, and put it on likewise.

At that moment the Fairy entered, unperceived by any one, and touched Cinderella with her wand, which changed her poor clothes into a more magnificent dress than sho had ever yet appeared in.

When the sisters found that poor Cinderella was the beautiful princess, they fell on their knees, and entreated pardon for their former cruel behaviour.

Cinderella raised up her sisters, and then freely forgave thom; after which, the officer conducted her to the prince, who was so struck with her beauty, that he solicited her hand in marriage.

Cinderella gave her consent, and the ceremony took place a few days afterwards with great pomp and rejoicing.

The amiable qualities of Cinderella were as conspicuous after as thoy had been before marriage, by which means she retained the love of her husband, and gained the esteem of all who knew her. Although she had been so cruelly used by her two sistors, yet she was so far from resenting thoir ill-treatment, that she sent for them to court; and, by her influence, they were shortly after married to two of the first noblemen in the kingdom.

Cinderella spent a long life, in a state ef felicity which seldom falls to the lot of mortals; nor did she forget to remember with gratitude her friend the Fairy, who had centributed so much to her comfert and happiness.