Fairy tales (1800)/Cinderilla, or, the little glass slipper

THE

STORY of CINDERELLA;

OR THE

Little GLASS SLIPPER.

Once there was a gentleman, who married for his second wife, the proudest and most haughty woman that ever was seen. She had by her former husband two daughters, but of her own humour, who were indeed exactly like her in all things. He had likewise, by another wife, a young daughter of an unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her mother, who was the best creature in the world

No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over but the mother in-law began to shew herself in her colours. She could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl, and the less because she made her daughters appear the more odious⟨.⟩ She employed her in the meanest work of the house, she scoured the dishes, tables, &c. and rubbed madam's chamber, and those of the misses her daughters; she lay up in a very sory garret, upon a wretched straw bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms, with floors all inlaid, upon beds of the very newest fashion. Her books were the only companion she had, and when her sisters went out she used to take the opportunity of reading theirs.

The poor girl bore all patiently, and dared not to tell her father, who would have rattled her off; for his wife governed him entirely. When ⟨she⟩ had done her work she used to go into the ⟨chimney⟩-corner, and sit down among the cinders ⟨and⟩ ashes, which made her commonly he called ⟨cinder⟩-breech; but the youngest who was not ⟨as⟩ rude and uncivil as the eldest called her Cinderella. However, Cinderella notwithstanding her ⟨mean⟩ apparel, was an hundred times handsomer ⟨than⟩ either of her sisters, tho' they were always ⟨dressed⟩ very richly.

It happened, that the king's son gave a ball, ⟨and⟩ invited all persons of fashion to it; our ⟨young⟩ misses were also invited; for they cut a ⟨very⟩ grand figure among the quality. They were ⟨mightily⟩ delighted at this invitation, and wonderfully busy in chusing out such gowns, petticoats, and head-clothes, as might best become ⟨them⟩. This was a new trouble to Cinderella; for ⟨it⟩ was she who ironed her sisters linen, and clear-⟨starched⟩ their ruffles; they talked all day long of ⟨nothing⟩, but how they should he drest, and were ⟨continually⟩ looking in their glasses.

For my part, said the eldest, I will wear my red ⟨velvet⟩ suit with French trimmings. And I said ⟨the⟩ youngest, shall only have my usual petticoat; ⟨but⟩ then, to make amends for that, I will put on ⟨my⟩ gold flowered mantua, and my diamond ⟨stomacher⟩, which is far from being the most ordinary ⟨one⟩ in the world. They sent for the best ⟨tirewomen⟩ they could get, to make up their head-dresses ⟨and⟩ adjust their double pinners, and had their red ⟨sashes⟩ and patches from Madamoisella De la ⟨Quche⟩.

Cinderilla was likewise called up to be ⟨consulted⟩ in all those matters, for she had excellent ⟨notions⟩, and advised them always for the best; nay ⟨she'd⟩ offered her service to dress their heads, which they were very willing she should do. As she was doing this, they said to her, Cinderella, would you not be glad to go to the ball? Ah! said she, you only jeer me, it is not for such as I am to go balls. Thou art in the right of it replied they, it would make the people laugh to see a Cinder-breech at a ball. Any one but Cinderella would have dressed their heads awry; but she was very good and dressed them perfectly well. They were almost two days without eating, to much were they transported with joy; thy broke a dozen of laces, in trying to be laced up close, that they might have a fine slender shape.

At last the happy day came, they went to court, and Cinderilla followed them with her eyes as long as she could, and when she had lost sight of them, she ell a crying.

Her God-mother who saw her all in tears asked her what was the mattter? I wise I could———I wish I could. She was not able to speak the rest, being interrupted by her tears and sobbing. This god-mother of her's, who was a fairy, said to her, Thou wishest thou couldest go to the ball? Is it not so? cried Cinderilla, with a great sigh. Well said her god-mother, be but a good girl, and I will contrive that thou shalt go; run into the garden and bring me a pompion. Cinderilla went immediately, gathered the finest she could get and brought it to her god-mother but was not able to imagine how this pompion could make her go to the ball. Her god-mother scooped out all the inside of it, leaving nothing but the rind; which done she struck it with her wand, and the pompion was instantly turned into a fine coach, gilt all over with gold.

She then went to look into her mouse trap, where she found six mice all alive, and ordered Cinderilla to lift up the trap-door a little, when giving each mouse, as it went out, a little tap With her wand, the mice were that moment turned into horses, which altogether made a very fine set of six horses, of a beautiful jet black. See here the reward for every good boy and girl.

Being at a loss for a coachman, I will go and see says Cinderella, if there be ever a rat in the trap we may make a coachman of him. Thou art in the right replied her god-mother, go and look. Cinderiila brought the trap to her, and in it were three huge rats. The fairy made choice of one of the three which had the largest beard, and having touched him with her wand, he was instantly turned into a fat jolly coachman, with a pair of the smartest and most beautiful whiskers that eyes ever beheld.

After that, she said to Cinderella, go again into the garden and you will find six lizards behind the watering pot, bring them to me. She had no sooner done it, than her god-mother turned them into six beautiful well dressed footmen, who skipped up immediately behind the coach, with their clothes all trimmed with gold and silver and clung as close behind each other, as if they had done nothing else all their whole lives. The fairy then said to Cinderella, well, you see here an equipage fit to go to the ball! are you not pleased with it? O yes! cried she; I am extremely well pleased with it; but must I go thither as I am, in these nasty pisoned rags? her god-mother only touched her with her wand, and at the same instant, her clothes were turned into cloth of gold and silver, bedecked with the richest jewels that ever were seen in any princes's retinue, in the ⟨whole⟩ world. This done she gave her a pair of glass slippers, which for beauty and elegance, far surpassed any thing of the kind ever seen before.

Being thus drest out, she got up into ⟨the⟩ cohch; but her godmother above all things commanded her not to stay till after midnight, telling her at the same time, if she staid at the ball any longer than twelve o'clock her coach would be a pompion again, her horses mice, her coachman, a rat, her footmen lizards, and her clothes become just as they were before.

She promised her godmother she would not fail of leaving the ball before it was midnight; and then away she drove, scarce able to contain herself for joy. The king's son who was told that a great princess, whom nobody knew, was come, ran out to receive her; he gave her his hand as she lighted out of the coach, and led her into the room among all the company. There was immediately a profound silence; they left off dancing and the violins ceased to play; so attentive was every one to contemplate the singular beauty of this unknown new comer. Nothing was then heard, but a confused noise of Ha! how handsome she is! how handsome she is! the King himself could not help telling the Queen softly, that it was a long time since he had seen so beautiful and lovely a creature. All the ladies were busy in considering her clothes and head-dress, that they might have some made the next day after the same pattern, provided they could meet with such fine materials and as able hands to make them. The King's son conducted her to the most honourable feat, and afterwards took her out to dance with him; she danced so very gracefully that they all more and more admired her. A fine collation was served up, whereof the young prince ate not a morsel so intently was he busy in gazing on her. She went and sat down by her sisters, shewing them a thousand civilities, giving them a part of the oranges and citrons, which the prince had presented her with; which very much surprised them for they did not know her While Cinderilla was thus amusing her sisters, she heard the clock strike eleven and three quarters; whereupon she immediately made a courtesy, and hasted away as fast as she could.

Being got home she ran to seek out her godmother; and after having thanked her, she said she could not but heartily wish she might go next day to the ball, because the king's son had desired her. as she was eagerly telling her god-mother whatever passed at the ball, her two sisters knocked at the door which Cinderilla ran and opened. How long you have stayed, cried she, gaping, rubing her eyes, and stretching herself, as if she had been just awaked out of her sleep: She had not however any manner of inclination to sleep since they went from home. If thou hadst been at the ball said her sisters, thou wouldest not have been tired with it; there came thither the finest princess, the most beautiful ever seen with mortal eyes: she shewed us a thousand civilities; and gave us oranges and citrons. Cinderilla seemed very indifferent in the matter; indeed she asked the name of that princess; but they told her they did not know it; and that the king's son was very uneasy on her account, and would give all the world to know where she was. At this Cinderilla smiling, replied, she must then be very beautiful indeed. Bless me how happy you have been! Could I not see her? Ah! dear Miss Charlotte, do lend me your yellow suit of clothes which you wear every day. Ah! to be sure, cries Miss Charlotte, lend my clothes to such a dirty Cindder breech as thou art, who's the fool then? Cinderilla indeed expected some such answer; and was very glad of the refusal, for she would have been sadly put to it, if her sister had lent her in earnest, what she asked for jestingly.

The next day the two sisters were at the ball; and so was Cinderilla, but dressed more magnificently than before. The king's son was always by her, and never ceased his compliments and amorous speeches to her; to whom all this was so far from being tiresame, that she quite forgot what her god-mother had recommended to her; so that she at last counted the clock striking twelve, when she took it to be no more than eleven; she then rose up and fled as nimbly as a deer. The prince followed but could not overtake her; she left behind one of her glass slippers, fellow to that she dropped. The guards at the palace were asked, if they had not seen a princess go out? who said, they had seen nobody go out, but a young girl, very meanly drest, who had more the air of a poor country girl, than a gentlewoman.

When the two sisters returned from the ball, Cinderilla asked them, if they had been well diverted, and if the fine lady had been there? They told her, yes, but that she hurried away immediately when it struck twelve and with so much haste, that she dropped one of her little glass slippers,the prettiest in the world, and which the king's son had taken up; and that he had done nothing but looked at her all the time of the ball, and that certainly he was very much in love with the beautiful person who owned the little glass slipper.

What they said was very true; for a few days after, the king's son caused it to be proclaimed, by sound of trumpet, that he would marry her, whose foot that slipper would just fit. They whom he employed began to try it upon the princesses, then the duchesses, and all the court, but in vain it was then brought to the two sisters, who did all they possibly could to thrust a foot into the slipper but they could not effect it. Cinderilla, who saw all this, and knew her slipper, said to them laughing Let me see if it will not fit me? Her sisters burst out a laughing, and began to banter. The gentleman who was sent to try the slipper looked earnestly to Cinderilla, and finding her very handsome, said it was but just that she should try, and that he had orders to let every one make trial

He obliged Cinderella to sit down, and putting the slipper to her foot, he found it went on very easily and fitted her as if it had been made of wax The amazement her two sisters were in, was excessively great, but still abundantly greater where Cinderella pulled out of her pocket the other slipper and put it on her foot. Thereupon in came her god-mother, who having touched with her wand Cinderilla's clothes made them richer and more magnificent than any of those she had before.

When her two sisters found her to be the beautiful lady they had seen before at the ball, they threw themselves at her feet, and begged pardon for the ill treatment they had made her undergo, Cinderilla took them up, and as she embraced them said, that she forgave them with all her heart, and desired them always to love her.

She was conducted to the young prince, who married her. Cinderilla who was no less good than beautiful, gave her two sisters lodgings in the palace, and that same day matched them with two great lords of the court.