Page:History of Cinderella, or, The little glass slipper (1).pdf/7

 for two days, so great was their joy as the happy day drew near. More than a dozen laces were broken in endeavouring to give them a fine slender shape, and they were always before the looking-glass.

At length the much-wished-for moment arrived: the proud misses stepped into a beautiful carriage, and followed by servants in rich liveries, drove towards the palace. Cinderella followed them with her eyes as far as she could; and when they were out of sight, she sat down in a corner and began to cry.

Her godmother, who saw her in tears, asked what ailed her. “I wish--I w-i-s-h---,” sobbed poor Cinderella without being able to say another word.

The godmother who was a fairy, said to her, “You wish to go to the ball, Cinderella; is not this the truth?” “ Alas! yes,” replied the poor child, sobbing still more than before. “Well, well, be a good girl,” said the godmother, “and you shall go.”

She then led Cinderella to her bed chamber, and said to her, “Run into the garden and bring me a pumpion.” Cinderella flew like lightning, and brought the finest she could lay hold of. Her godmother scooped out the inside, leaving nothing but the rind; she then struck it with her wand, and the pumpion instantly became a fine coach