Reading practice.
Print the story to read it in your free time. Later, we will talk about it in class.

CINDERELLA

Many years ago, There was a gentleman who had a charming lady for his wife. They had one daughter only, who was very special to her parents. But while she was still very young, her mamma died. After a time, the little girl’s papa married another lady. This new lady was proud and arrogant, and had two grown-up daughters as disagreeable as her; so the poor girl found everything at home changed for the worse. But she contrlled all her troubles with patience, not even complaining to her father, and, in spite of her difficult times, she grew more lovely in face and figure every year. Now the King’s son gave a grand dance, and all people of quality were invited to it. Our two young ladies were not overlooked. The women told Cinderella that she was not invited. Later, the women only talked about the rich dresses they needed to wear. At last the happy day arrived. The two egotistical sisters set off in high spirits. Cinderella followed them with her eyes until the coach was out of sight. She then began to cry bitterly.
While she was sobbing, her godmother, who was a Fairy, appeared before her. “Cinderella,” said the Fairy, “I am your godmother, and for petition from your dear motherI came to cheer you up, so dry your tears; you will go to the grand dance tonight, but you must do just as I recommend you. Go into the garden and bring me a pumpkin.” Cinderella brought the finest that was there. Her godmother touch it with her magic wand, and it was changed into a beautiful coach. Afterwards, the old lady look into the mouse-trap, where she found six mice. She tapped them lightly with her magic wand, and each mouse became a fine horse. The rat-trap contained two large rats; one of these turned into a coachman, and the other into a guard. The old lady then told Cinderella to go into the garden and look for half-a-dozen lizards. She changed these into six footmen, dressed in colorful clothes.
When all these things had been done, the kind godmother touching her with her wand, changed her worn-out clothes into a beautiful dancing-dress embroidered with pearls and silver. She then gave her a pair of glass slippers, that is, they were made from the most delicate glass, fine as the web of a spider. When Cinderella was dressed, her godmother made her get into her splendid coach, giving her a caution to leave the dance before the twelve.

On her arrival, her beauty impacted everybody with wonder. The gallant Prince gave her a courteous welcome, and led her into the ball-room; and the King and Queen were as much enchanted with her, as the Prince conducted her to the supper-table, and was too much occupied in waiting upon her to partake of anything himself. She was so occupied with the Prince’s tender sayings that she was not so quick in marking the progress of time. To her alarm she heard the clock strike twelve. She fled from the ball-room; but in a moment the coach changed again to a pumpkin, the horses to mice, the coachman and postilion to rats, the footmen to lizards, and Cinderella’s beautiful dress to her old shabby clothes. In her way out she dropped one of her glass slippers, and reached home, out of breath, with none of her godmother’s fairy gifts but one glass slipper.

When her sisters arrived after the party, they spoke in terms of rapture of the unknown Princess, and told Cinderella about the little glass slipper she had dropped, and how the Prince picked it up. It was evident to all the Court that the Prince was determined if possible, to find out the owner of the slipper; and a few days afterwards a royal herald proclaimed that the King’s son would marry the lady whose foot the glass slipper should be found exactly to fit. This proclamation caused a great sensation. Ladies of all ranks were permitted to make a trial of the slipper; but it was of no use. Cinderella now said, “Let me try—perhaps it may fit me.” It slipped on in a moment. Great was the surprise of the two sisters when Cinderella took the other slipper out of her pocket! At that moment the godmother appeared, and touched Cinderella’s clothes with her magic wand. Her sisters then saw that she was the beautiful lady they had met at the party, and, throwing themselves at her feet, ased her to forgive them. A short time after, Cinderella was married to the Prince, and they lived happily ever after.