This is the Story of a girl called Cinderella nce upon a time there lived a young girl whose mother had died and father had married another woman. She lived an unhappy life for her stepmother had two daughters of her own who didn't like the young girl one bit. All the nice things were given to her stepsisters. New dresses, jewels, comfy beds and all the good things in life, the young girl received none. Instead she was made to work in the parlour, fetching and carrying all day. When her evening's work was done, she was allowed to sit by the fire, amongst the ashes and cinders. And this is why everyone called her Cinderella because she was always dusty, dirty and covered in soot. Cinderella was a good, kind and beautiful girl, unlike her stepsisters who were cruel, ugly and mean.

Once day one of the Kings messengers arrived at the house with an invitation to the Princes ball. All the ladies in the land were to go so the Prince could choose a wife. Cinderella dearly wanted to go but her evil stepsisters ordered her to "Wash my hair" and "Cinderella put on my jewels" and "Make me look beautiful for the Princes ball." When her stepsisters were ready and taken to the palace in a beautiful coach, poor Cinderella had nothing to wear and no coach to arrive in. So she sat by the fire, in the parlour and wept, she was so unhappy.

Suddenly there was a bright light and a fairy appeared "Don't be sad my dear for I am your fairy godmother" she said, "I know you would love to go to the ball, and so you shall." "But how can I" Cinderella replied, "I have nothing to wear and I look such a mess." With that the fairy godmother said "Leave that to me, now quickly fetch me the largest pumpkin you can find, and seven white mice." She waved her magic wand and the pumpkin turned into a splendid coach, the mice, six white horses and a smart coachman in full uniform. Cinderella could hardly believe her eyes "But what about my clothes" she said. The fairy godmother smiled and with another flick of her magic wand, Cinderella was wearing a beautiful ball gown, sparkling jewels and dainty white slippers. She was ready to go to the ball. The fairy godmother said "Now remember you must be home by midnight, for when the clock strikes twelve, the coach will turn back into a pumpkin, the horses and coachman mice, and you will be back in your old rags." Cinderella said she understood and off to the Princes ball she went.

When Cinderella entered the ballroom the room fell quite, everyone was wondering who this beautiful young girl was. "Who can that be?" everyone whispered. When the Prince saw Cinderella he thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and danced with her all night.

Cinderella was having such a wonderful night, she completely forgot the time, when suddenly the clock struck the first stroke of midnight ! Cinderella let go of the Princes hand and ran from the ballroom. As she fled down the great steps of the palace, one of her dainty white slippers fell from her foot. She just about made it out of the palace before the last stroke of midnight, when the horses, carriage and coachman turned back into the pumpkin and seven white mice. Cinderella was back in her soot-covered rags and ran the rest of the way home.

The Prince, meanwhile, had found the dainty slipper and ordered that in the morning, his messengers were to knock on every house, in every town, until they found the foot that would fit the slipper, for that lady was to be his wife. When morning came the Princes messengers started knocking on houses, and every young lady in every house was to try on the slipper, until they found the one he had been so enchanted with at the ball.

When the messengers arrived at Cinderella's house, her mean step-sisters tried to squeeze their feet into the slipper, so they could be the Princes wife, but their feet were just too big. The messengers were about to leave when they heard a noise from the parlour, and ordered that whoever was down there to be brought out to try on the slipper. Cinderella's stepsisters said "What that dirty girl, what will you want with her, she could never have been at the ball." but the Princes orders were clear. Cinderella was brought from the parlour, in all her rags and covered with soot; she placed her foot into the tiny slipper. A perfect fit! Her stepsisters and stepmother were horrified "How could she be one at the ball, look at how dirty she is" they exclaimed. The messengers replied, "Come with us, fair maiden, for the prince awaits." And with that she was gone.

The very next day there was a huge wedding ceremony, and everyone in the land was invited, as this was the wedding day of the Prince and Cinderella.