Page:Fairy tales (1).pdf/2



NCE there was a gentleman, who married for his second wife the proudest and most haughty woman that ever was seen. She had by her former husband, two daughters, but of her own humour, who were indeed exactly like her in all things. He had, likewise, by another wife, a young daughter of an unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her mother, who was the best creature in the world.

No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over, but the mother-in-law began to shew herself in her colours. She could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl, and the less, because she made her daughters appear the more odious. She employed her in the meanest work of the house; she scoured the dishes, tables, &c. and rubbed madam’s chamber and those of the misses her daughters; she lay up in a very sorry garret, upon a wretched straw bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms, with floors all inlaid, upon beds of the very newest fashion. Her books were the only companions she had, and when her sisters went out, she used to take the opportunity of reading theirs.

The poor girl bore all patiently, and dared not to tell her father, who would have rattled her off; for his wife governed him entirely. When