Cinderella

the heroine of an old fairy tale, dearly loved of little folks. The story is doubtless of eastern origin, but is found in Germany as early as the sixteenth century, and in the French of Perrault soon after, whence it probably came into the English. As commonly told this story posseses many features delightful to the mind of a child, while lacking in those distressing elements found so frequently in old time tales. Cinderella-little cinder girl-is a poor little drudge. She has a hard-hearted stepmother and two proud, selfish sisters. But she has also a fairy godmother, with a wonderful wand! Her ragged gown is changed to a party dress. A fascinating pumpkin shell coach appears, with mice for steeds, lizards for footmen, and a long-whiskered rat on the coachman's box. Cinderella's beauty and happiness at the ball are most gratifying. But the clock strikes twelve, and the gay gown changes to rags as she runs for her coach. Then comes the search for a foot that can wear the glass slipper, lost in her haste. None but Cinderella's is small enough. She weds her prince. The sisters repent and are forgiven, and all "live happy till they die." We are told that the slipper should have been of fur; that the first Englishman who translated the tale mistook the French word vair for verre, similar in form and sound. But to the English or American child, the slipper of glass only adds another charm to the tale of her who "lay among the ashes and wedded the king's son."