Once upon a time there was a beautiful girl named Cinderella. Cinderella's mother died while she was a very little child. Her father married again .

She lived with her wicked stepmother and two stepsisters. Cinderella's stepsisters did not love her, and were very unkind to her. 

They made her work as a servant. She would do many house work like washing the dishes, cleaning the house and preparing meals.

Then one day, they heard the big news. The King and the Queen were going to have a ball! It was time for the Prince to find a bride. All of the young ladies in the land were invited to come.  But Cinderella’s stepmother would not let her go.

Cinderella was made to sew new party gowns for her stepmother and stepsisters, and curl their hair. They then went to the ball, leaving Cinderella alone at home.

Cinderella felt very sad and began to cry. I wish I could--I wish I could--"; she was not able to speak the rest, being interrupted by her tears and sobbing.

Suddenly, a fairy godmother appeared and said, “Don’t cry, Cinderella! I will send you to the ball!” But Cinderella was sad. She said, “I don’t have a gown to wear for the ball!”

The fairy godmother waved her magic wand and changed Cinderella’s old clothes into a beautiful new gown! 

The fairy godmother found six mice playing near a pumpkin. She touched them with her magic wand and the mice became four shiny black horses and the pumpkin turned into a golden coach. 

Cinderella, this magic will only last until midnight! You must reach home by then!