I.

Preparation.

The story of a rich girl who had to serve her sisters; of her sisters’ unkindness; of kind friends who helped her, and of how she was happy at last.

Explain serve and servant. Talk of servants’ work.

Narration.

HOW CINDERELLA GOT HER NAME.

Once upon a time there was a girl whose father and mother were rich. They lived in a beautiful house and had everything that they could want. They loved each other very much and lived happily together.

But one day the mother became very sick and, as she grew worse and worse, she knew that she was going to die. She called her daughter to her and said: “My child, I am going to leave you. When I am gone, remember that I have tried to teach you to be good and kind and loving.”

The daughter promised that she would never forget what her dear mother had taught her. They kissed each other lovingly, and not long after the mother died.

After a while the father brought a new wife home. He thought that this lady would be a kind mother to his daughter.

But he was mistaken. The new wife was not at all kind. She was proud and bad-tempered. And she had two young lady daughters who were even worse than their mother.

One day, not long after the new mother and sisters had come to the little girl’s home, they were all sitting together in the parlor.

One of the sisters said: “Mother, must we have her sitting with us all the time? We don’t want her here. Send her into the kitchen and let her do the work.” And the mother said to the little girl, “Yes, go into the kitchen and work. We do not want you here. Go quickly.”

So the daughter of the house went into the kitchen and began to work. The sisters came out after a while and looked at her as she worked. One of them said, “That dress is altogether too pretty for you; give it to me.” The other sister said, “Take off those pretty shoes and give them to me.” She gave her pretty shoes and dress to her sisters, who threw a ragged old dress and wooden shoes to her saying, “Here, take these; they are good enough for you.”

Then they said to her, “Your bedroom is too nice for a girl who works in the kitchen. We want that room for ourselves; you may sleep here.” As she had nowhere else to sleep, the poor girl slept in the kitchen.

It was often cold there at night after the fire had gone out. So she would creep into the great fireplace and curl herself up into the warm ashes and sleep.

Her sisters found this out. But, instead of being sorry for her, they laughed at her and called her Cinderella, the ash-girl.

Suggestions.

II.

Preparation.

Cinderella’s father goes to a fair and promises to bring each one a present. What will each ask for?

Explain fair. Pearl necklace.

Narration.

THE FAIR.

There was a large town near Cinderella’s home. Every year there was a fair in this town. The people who had things to sell brought them to the fair.

If you were to walk through the streets of this town you would see booths gaily trimmed with flags and flowers and the branches of trees.

There were many pretty things for sale in these booths. There were silks and satins. There were rings and bracelets and necklaces; and there were toys for boys and girls.

People walked about looking at the beautiful things in the booths. There was music and dancing, and everybody was gay and happy.

One morning Cinderella’s father said, “I am going to the fair. I will buy each of you girls a present, so tell me what you want.” The oldest one said, “O papa, bring me a pretty silk dress. I need a new party dress.” “Oh!” cried the second sister, “I must have a pearl necklace. Do bring me a beautiful pearl necklace.” “Very well,” said the father, “you shall have what you want.” Then he turned to Cinderella and asked, “And what shall I bring you, my daughter?” She replied, “I do not want anything from the fair, father. But please bring me the first branch that touches your hat as you ride home through the forest.”

The two sisters laughed and said: “What a goose you are, Cinderella. Why don’t you ask for something nice?” Her father said, “Yes, daughter, I will bring you anything you wish from the fair.” But Cinderella said, “I do not want anything, father, but the first branch that touches your hat as you ride home through the forest.” So the father mounted his horse and rode off to the fair.

By and by he came back; and sure enough he brought the silk dress and the pearl necklace to the sisters, and to Cinderella he gave the branch she had asked for.

She took the branch and planted it on her mother’s grave. Every day she watered it and at last the branch grew to be a fine tree. Its roots reached down into the ground. Its branches spread out on every side. The birds came and built their nests in it. How glad Cinderella was to see her tree growing so big and strong! When she felt sad and lonely, she went out to her dear tree and it comforted her. The birds, too, were her friends. She talked to them, and brought them crumbs to eat, and they sang their sweetest songs for her.

Suggestions.

III.

Preparation.

Cinderella’s sisters go to a ball. Explain king, queen, prince. Children give their idea of a ball. Will Cinderella go?

Narration.

THE BALL.

The king of the country in which Cinderella lived had a son. When this son was twenty-one years old the king said to the queen, “Let us give a grand ball for our son. We will invite all the beautiful young ladies of the land so that our son can choose a wife.”

The king and queen sent out invitations to the ball and Cinderella’s father and mother were invited to come and bring their daughters. The ball was to last three nights, and everyone expected to have a very fine time, indeed.

How glad Cinderella’s sisters were when the invitations came. They said, “We must get out our most beautiful dresses and our loveliest ornaments; and you, Cinderella, must help us.”

And so poor little Cinderella had to run to and fro helping her proud sisters to get ready for the ball.

At last the day of the ball came. Oh, how busy Cinderella was! She had to brush and comb her sisters’ hair. She had to sew bows on their slippers. She had to help them dress.

“O sisters,” she said at last, “I wish I could go to the ball, too. I would like to see the king and queen, and the handsome young prince.” But her sisters said, “Nonsense! Your dress is too ragged and your shoes are too clumsy. You cannot go.”

So Cinderella went to the mother and asked her if she might go to the ball. The mother took a peck of seeds and flung them out into the backyard where they fell among the ashes. “Now, Cinderella,” she said, “if you pick up all of those seeds in an hour, you may go to the ball.” Cinderella stood in the yard and began to call, in her soft, sweet voice: “Come, little pigeons and turtle doves. If you don’t help me, what shall I do?”

Down flew the pigeons and the turtle doves and all the birds who knew and loved Cinderella. Down they came and set to work to help her. Pick! pick! pick! with their sharp little bills, and soon all the seeds were out of the ashes and back in the peck measure again.

Then Cinderella ran to her mother. “See, mother,” she said, “here are the seeds. Now may I go to the ball?” But the mother said, “No, you cannot go;” and turning her back on the poor girl she and her daughters went to the ball.

Suggestions.

IV.

Preparation.

Talk of Cinderella’s wish to go to the ball. Difficulties in the way. Children imagine how she might be able to go.

Narration.

HOW CINDERELLA WENT TO THE BALL.

After her mother and sisters had gone to the ball, Cinderella felt very lonely and sad. She sat in the kitchen for a while. Then she said to herself, “I will go out to my dear tree; perhaps it will help me.”

How pretty and strong the tree looked in the moonlight. Cinderella thought, “Surely, my dear tree will help me.” Then she said aloud, “Rustle and shake yourself, dear tree. Throw gold and silver down on me.” And what do you think happened? Why, the tree shook its branches and down dropped such lovely things,—a beautiful, snow-white dress, all trimmed with gold and silver; and the prettiest little slippers in the world.

Oh, how glad Cinderella was! You may be sure she dressed herself quickly and went to the ball. And when she got there she was the prettiest and sweetest looking girl in all that great company. The prince danced with her. The king and queen spoke kindly to her. They also said to one another, “She is a lovely maiden, so sweet and gentle.”

Her mother and sisters did not know her at all. They never thought that the happy looking girl in the beautiful ball dress was their Cinderella.

When it grew late, Cinderella stole quietly out of the ball-room and ran home. She took off her pretty things and took them back to the tree. Then she lay down in her bed in the ashes and was soon fast asleep.

When her sisters and their mother came home they woke her. “O Cinderella!” they said, “we had a delightful time. And there was the most beautiful girl there! She wore a dress all trimmed with gold and silver. And the prince danced with her. We wondered who she could be.” Cinderella laughed softly to herself, but she said never a word.

The second night of the ball came. Cinderella’s sisters had kept her running back and forth waiting upon them; but at last they were dressed.

As soon as they and their mother had gone, Cinderella ran out to her kind friend, the tree. Again she called out, “Rustle and shake yourself, dear tree. Throw gold and silver down on me.” And down fell a lovely ball dress, prettier even than the one she wore the night before. When Cinderella reached the ball-room, the prince was waiting for her. The king and queen welcomed her; and everyone seemed glad to see this sweet-faced, happy maiden.

How happy Cinderella was! She forgot all about her ragged dress, her clumsy wooden shoes, and her bed in the ashes. She was the happiest of all in that great ball-room.

When it grew late, she again stole quietly away and ran home. She took off her pretty things and laid them down under the tree, and they were quickly gone. She was asleep when the sisters came home; but they woke her to help them undress and to listen to all their talk about the ball.

The last night of the ball came. How anxious the sisters were to look as fine as possible! How hard they made Cinderella work getting them ready! How cross they were because their dresses were not handsome enough, and how gentle and kind dear Cinderella was to them!

At last they were gone, and Cinderella hurried out to her tree. Again she called out in her sweet voice, “Rustle and shake yourself, dear tree. Throw gold and silver down on me.” I wish you could have seen the lovely things that the tree threw down. Such a beautiful dress! Such dear little slippers! And I wish you could have seen Cinderella when she was dressed in all those pretty things.

The prince was waiting for her. He took her by the hand and lead her to his father and mother. “See, dear father and mother,” he said, “this is the sweetest maiden in all the world. This is the one I choose to be my wife.”

And so Cinderella and the prince were married. Cinderella lived in the palace the rest of her life, and never, never again slept in the ashes.

Suggestions.