Cinderella

Cinderella

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a fair young maiden. She had golden hair, fair skin, and the grace of a swan. Every morning in the spring, a white bird would land at her window. There, it would sing a sweet song to gently wake her.

Spring turned to summer, which, in turn, brought falling leaves and the chill of autumn air. As winter drew near, the young maiden's mother grew ill with fever. With each passing day she became weaker, until, one frosty morning, she took her final breath. Soon after, the girl's father remarried His new wife had two daughters, who were fair of face, but dark of heart. Yet the father was often away and didn't notice their cruelty.

When the girl met her new stepsisters, the sisters said: " You cannot sit at the table with us, stupid goose. If you want to eat bread, you will have to earn it! ” With that, they took away her lovely clothes. Instead, they made her wear an old gray dress and wooden shoes, and banished her to the kitchen.

From that day on, life was hard. The girl woke before dawn to bring water, make the fire, cook, clean, and wash. Her stepsisters did everything they could to make her miserable. By evening she was tired and she curled up to sleep in the ashes by the hearth. Her stepsisters called her“ Cinderella” because she was always so dusty and dirty.

One day, their father was going to the fair. He asked his daughters what they would like him to buy. " A beautiful gown, " said the eldest stepsister. “ A lovely ring, " added the other. “ Please, I want nothing more than the first twig that brushes you on your way home, " said Cinderella. Cinderella's father bought dresses and jewels for the stepsisters. On his return, he brushed against the twig of a tree. He brought it home for Cinderella.