Once
upon a time... there lived an unhappy young girl. Unhappy
she was, for her mother was dead, her father had married another woman,
a widow with two daughters, and her stepmother didn't like her one little
bit. All the nice things, kind thoughts and loving touches were for her
own daughters. And not just the kind thoughts and love, but also dresses,
shoes, shawls, delicious food, comfy beds, as well as every home comfort.
All this was laid on for her daughters.
But,
for the poor unhappy girl, there was nothing at all. No dresses, only her
stepsisters' hand-me-downs. No lovely dishes, nothing but scraps. No nice
rests and comfort. For she had to work hard all day, and only when evening
came was she allowed to sit for a while by the fire, near the cinders.
That is how she got her nickname, for everybody called her Cinderella.
Cinderella
used to spend long hours all alone talking to the cat. The cat said, "Miaow",
which really meant, "Cheer up!
You have something neither of your
stepsisters have and that is beauty."
