Cinderella
was delighted. "Oh, fairy godmother - it's like a dream come
true!"
"Yes, child. But like all dreams, it can't
last forever. On the stroke of midnight, the spell will be broken,
and everything will be as it was before."
"I'll remember," promised Cinderella.
"Oh, it's more than I ever hoped for! Thank you, fairy
godmother."
"Bless you, my child. Now hurry up.
It's getting late."
Cinderella stepped into the pumpkin coach and was
whisked away to the royal ball.
The King's ballroom was magnificent. Every lady
in the land was dressed in her finest gown. But Cinderella was the
loveliest of them all.
When the Prince saw the charming Cinderella, he fell in
love instantly. The Duke said to the King, "You see, Your
Majesty, the Prince has danced with that girl all evening. It looks
like he's found the girl he wants to marry."
All at once the tower clock began to strike
midnight. Cinderella cried, "Oh, I almost forgot!"
And without another word, away she ran, out of the ballroom and down the
palace stairs. On the way she lost one of the glass slippers, but
she couldn't stop to get it.
Cinderella stepped into the magic coach, and quickly
drove away. As the clock struck for the twelfth time, the magic
ended! Cinderella was left with a pumpkin, some mice, and the memory
of her wonderful evening.
The next morning the whole kingdom was wondering who
the mysterious girl was. The only clue was the lost slipper.
The Grand Duke carried the glass shoe from house to house looking for its
owner, for the Prince had said he would marry no one but the girl who
could wear the tiny slipper.
Every girl in the land tried hard to put the slipper
on. The ugly stepsisters tried hardest of all! But it was no
use. Not a single girl could fit her foot into the glass shoe.
And where was Cinderella? Locked in her
room. The mean old stepmother was taking no chances that poor
Cinderella would try on the slipper. But Cinderella's mice friends
found the key and rushed it up to the locked room.
The Duke was just about to leave. "Well,
madam, if you have no other daughters, I'll bid you good day."
Just then he heard a voice calling to him.
"Please wait! May I try the
slipper?" It was Cinderella.
"Of course," said the Duke. "Every
girl must have a chance. Please sit down." He slid the
glass shoe onto Cinderella's foot and it fit perfectly.
Cinderella's dream had come true. No longer would
she slave for her cruel stepmother and her foolish stepsisters. She
would marry the Prince and live happily ever after.
And what became of the little mice who had been
Cinderella's only friends? They went to the palace, too. And
they all lived happily ever after.
Ex. IIKey:
1. The
clock stroke reminded Cinderella of the promise she made to the fairy
godmother. She cried, ran out
of the ballroom and down the palace stairs, stepped into the
magic coach, and quickly drove away.
2. When the Prince saw the charming Cinderella, he fell love
instantly. He danced with the girl all evening. The
Prince persisted in finding the girl. He said he would
marry no one but the girl who could wear the tiny
slipper.
3. The fairy godmother and the mice helped Cinderella a great deal.
4. (open question)
