The Story of Cinderella.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 546, 27 January 1868, Page 4

The Story of Cinderella.

(TVHERE was oucc a poor girl named CiuderCvi l e^a > ' v ' ll ° " as most cruP ‘’ , y treated by her stepmother. Instead of being allowed'to lie B-bed till 11 o’clock in the morions’, r.iul to read French novels, like her more fortunate sisters, ske was forced to make her own dresses, and compelled to arrange her own back-hair. She was urver allowed the use of a rouge pot, a ud was sent to church on Sundays, not to improve her taste in bonnets, but simply to listen to the prosy sermons of the clergyman! In fact never was there such a ease of maternal tyranny. She was actually once asked to make a pudding; and because she refused to comnlv with the barbarous request, she was deprived of her “Sunday Zoo” for more than a fortnight. Now it must not be thought from what we have written that Cinderella went to the “Zoo” on Sundavs to look at the beasts; on the contrary, she was a very good girl indeed, aud knew nearly bah the fourth commandment by heart (she had learnt it in German), and consequently only visited the Gardens for the purpose of examining the drosses of her acquaintances and talking scandal. Now it happened one evening that she was staying at home alone. Her cruel stepmother had gone out with the rest of the family, leaving poor Cinderella to make some clothes for a number of wretched beggars who lived in an infirmary hard bv. This indignity so wounded the dear child’s amour pr-ovre, that she burst info tears and wept bitterly.

“TTl'nt are you crying for, my darling?” asked a soft voice by her side. Cinderella raised her eyes and saw standing before Tier her fairy godmother. Now, idf hough t!w lady in question was not quite a person to he civil to (the fairy’s husband had once been something in tallow), poor Cinderella felt in such low spirits that she at once poured out all the sorrows of her heart. “Bohoo!” she cried, “1 am so miserable. Here I have been left to makeup some clothes for some disagreeable mendicants. [Cinderella made use of fine words not only before company, but at all times.] They are not for a fanev fair where I might flirt, but are going to a lot of ugly old people. Its cruel why, they won’t even put my name in the Times as having made them, Bohoo! Bohoo! Why was I ever horn?” ]Mv dear child, said the fairy “your sentiments do you honor, and to prove how much I hold your noble character in esteem I will do you a service. Tour mother and sisters have gone to n bail at the Palace. Tou shall lollow them in a mo c t magnificent costume,” —Cinderella clapped her bands and jumped for joy—“on one condition. You will meet at the ball a prince whom you must marry within three weeks of the present date. On the day of your wedding you must pay me £2000.” “You mean 1000,” observed Cinderella, with a smile. “Don’t let us quarrel about details, my dear ” replied her godmother; “Ictus say £ISOO aad have done with it.” “Far too much: bnt I have nn heart to-night for bargaining. Y'ou have a bill stamp?” ami within five minutes the matter was settled. The fairy poured some liquid over the head of her goddaughter, and Cinderella’s raven tresses changed to a fiery carrot color. She waved her wand, and i the ghost of a needle-woman appeared carrying a hall-dress. She waved her wand a second time, and a fat Jewess started from the ground and daubed Cinderella’s face with enamel, Indian ink. androuge. Afew seconds later, and the\oung girl was beautiful as paint could make her, “Not quite decoUcfcr enough,” said the fairv critically, touching Cinderella with her wand*; ‘here, that will do. Now, mv dear, you arc ready to start. Here, waitone moment. * If von stav after 13 o’clock has struck vour ' k,. black at the roots, your rouge will lose its color your chignon will fail off, and your dress will disappear altogether.” ’ 1 “The last calamity you have mentioned would scarcely be noticed in a modern hall-room ” replied Cinderella with a smile. “ However godmother, I shall l_m cTi r „ rr,;„a ~ Good-bye.” "* ***** Cinderella was a success. She behaved admirably at nrst. She danced four quadrilles with the gouty prince, and treated with superb disdain all the younger sons. Alas, that we'should have to write it? after supper she aetuallv forgot herself fa VAI O wa]lz with a nlila "'ho had little more tv- -T^ ar A a steely any expectations to T UIC V" UIV uroa B , ‘twii 11 lilts own pimishment. In the very act of dancing the hour of midnight struck, and the fairy’s prophecy was accomplished, Cinderella rushed awav D’-v ; n"- h»chignon behind her. She regained her home, and

fell on her knees in an agony of sorrow. “0, why did I leave the white-haired prince with his gout and his thousands for the boy with his youth and his poverty?” she cried. “The prince had no five years of life in him, but his money bags would have remained for ever.” Scarcely h;ul she uttered these words ere the fairy appeared, leading by the hand the aged aristocrat. “ Prince,” said the supernatural godmother, “you are in search, of the maiden who drormsd the golden-haired chignon at your bail. Behold her!” “ Whv, she has black tresses,” mumbled out the prince, Ik-ring at Cinderella through his double “Always in the morning,” said the fairy in explanation. Our story is over. All ended happily. Cinderella became a princess within a mouth, and a widow within a twelvemonth. For what happier fate could she possibly have wished?