Long ago,in a land far away,there lived a beautiful young girl.
She was very sad.Her mother had died and her father had married again.His new wife had two ugly daughters,Esmerelda and Griselda.
Soon after,her father also died and life immediately changed for the girl.
"You will be our servant,"said her stepmother."You will do everything we say."
"You must sleep in the kitchens,by the fire," said the stepsisters.
After tending the fire,and cooking and leaning,the girl's clothes were very dirty.She was called to clear away dishes.
"There are cinders all over your clothes!" exclaimed the stepmother."Cinders for Cinderella.That's your new name.Clear these things away,Cinderella."
"Cinderella!Cinderella!" sang Esmerelda and Griselda."Oh,how clever you are,Mama!"
Cinderella had to work very hard,as all the other servants were dismissed.
One day,an invitation arrived from the palace.
"Girls,listen to this," said the stepmother.Cinderella was serving the breakfast.She listened as her stepmother read the invitation.
"The King is having a ball," she said,excitedly."He is looking for a wife for the Prince!Oh,my dears,this is wonderful.He will probably choose one of you,but it will be such a hard choice to make.
"Am I invited too,stepmother?" asked Cinderella.
"You!Certainly not!" exclaimed her stepmother."The thought of such a thing.A scruffy servant going to a ball,when only beautiful ladies are invited!"
"Hah!Hah!" laughed the stepsisters."Beautiful!That doesn't include you,Cinderella!"
"You may help my two lovely girls to get ready," said her stepmother.
"Oh," said Cinderella,sadly.
"We shall all have new dresses,girls,and we shall go shopping today.Clear away these things,Cinderella."
'Oh,I wish I could go to the ball,' thought Cinderella.
The day of the ball arrived and the whole day was spent preparing Esmerelda and Griselda.Cinderella did her best to make the sisters look pretty,but it was an impossible task.
Finally,the coach arrived to collect the girls and their mother.
Cinderella was very tired and she wandered back to the kitchens.
"Oh,I did so want to go," she sighed as she sat down by the fire.
"What's to stop you?" asked a voice.
"Who's that?" asked Cinderella,looking around.
"I'm here by the door." A strange woman walked up to Cinderella."I heard you the other day,wishing you could go to the ball.Well,the ball
