_Cinderella._ May I go to the ball, mother?
_Mother._ Nonsense, child! what are you thinking of? A ball is no place for a child like you. You are better off at home by the kitchen fire.
_Cinderella._ But I"m fourteen. Sister Katherine, won"t you coax mamma to let me go?
_Katherine._ No, indeed, I"ll not! What would you do at a ball? a silly thing like you!
_Elizabeth._ Don"t be a goose. Wait till you"re older and better looking. There"s no room in the carriage for you, and you are too young, anyway.
_Mother._ Come, girls, it is time for us to go down town to buy our new gowns. Cinderella, go to your lessons. Don"t think any more about the ball. You can"t go, and so that"s the end of it.
SCENE II.--_Cinderella"s Home_
_Father._ Come, girls! aren"t you ready yet? Is your mother coming?
_Katherine._ Yes, father, in just a minute.
_Mother._ Here we are, dear. Don"t the girls look sweet?
_Father._ Yes, yes! but, come on, for we are late now.
_Mother._ Good night, Cinderella. Be a good girl and go to bed at nine o"clock.
[_All go out, leaving Cinderella alone._]
_Cinderella._ Good-by!--Now they have gone and I am all alone. Oh, why couldn"t I go, too! How pretty they all looked! I would not take up much room, and I don"t like to be left here by myself when they are having such a good time. Oh, dear! I believe I"m going to cry, but I can"t help it. [_Cries._]
[_Enter fairy G.o.dmother._]
_Fairy G.o.dmother._ Why are you crying, Cinderella?
_Cinderella._ Who is that? I thought I heard some one speaking to me, but I can"t see anybody.
_Fairy G.o.dmother._ What is the matter, Cinderella?
_Cinderella._ Oh, _lovely_ lady! who are you?
_Fairy G.o.dmother._ I am your fairy G.o.dmother, my child, and I wish to know why you are crying.
_Cinderella._ Oh, dear! I"m crying because they have all gone to the ball; and I wanted to go, too, and they wouldn"t take me!
_Fairy G.o.dmother._ Never mind, my dear. Stop crying, and I will let you go.
_Cinderella._ Oh, dear fairy G.o.dmamma! will you, really? But how _can_ I go in this old dress?
_Fairy G.o.dmother._ You"ll see. Tell me, Cinderella, have you a big yellow pumpkin in the kitchen garden?
_Cinderella._ Yes, I think so. I saw one there yesterday.
_Fairy G.o.dmother._ Go, get it for me.
_Cinderella_ (_runs out, and returns with the pumpkin_). I"ve found it!
Here it is!
[Ill.u.s.tration]
_Fairy G.o.dmother._ Yes, that is a fine pumpkin. I"ll touch it with my wand. What is it now?
[_The pumpkin is changed to a carriage._]
_Cinderella._ Oh! oh! how lovely! Such a beautiful, big, yellow coach!
Why, it is much finer than papa"s black carriage.
_Fairy G.o.dmother._ I am glad you like your coach. Now do you think there are any rats in your rat trap?
_Cinderella._ I"ll go see. Yes, here is the trap with two big rats in it. What long tails they have!
_Fairy G.o.dmother._ Wait till I touch them with my fairy wand. Now what do you see?
_Cinderella._ Oh, dear G.o.dmother! what a wonderful wand to change rats into great handsome horses with long manes and tails! You dear horses!
I"ll get you some sugar to eat.
_Fairy G.o.dmother._ Don"t stop to pet them now, but fetch me the mousetrap.
_Cinderella._ Here it is with two cunning little mice in it. What will you do with them?
_Fairy G.o.dmother._ Touch them with my fairy wand and turn them into a coachman and a footman. See, the coachman is on the box with the reins in his hand, and the footman holds the door open for you. Will you step in, Cinderella?
_Cinderella._ In _these_ clothes, dear G.o.dmother?
_Fairy G.o.dmother_ (_laughing_). That wouldn"t be nice, would it? Well, let us see what my wand can do for you. Now look in the gla.s.s and tell me what you see there.
_Cinderella._ Oh, what a pretty lady! Why, I do believe she is myself!
What a beautiful dress! And look, dear G.o.dmother! see my pretty gla.s.s slippers!
_Fairy G.o.dmother._ Yes, my dear, you are all ready for the Prince"s ball. I want you to have a happy time, but remember this. You must start for home when the clock strikes twelve or your pretty clothes will change, your coach will turn into a pumpkin, your horses to rats, and you will have to walk home.
_Cinderella._ I"ll remember, dear G.o.dmother, and run away on the first stroke. Thank you so much! Good-by!
[_Enters the coach and is driven away._]
SCENE III.--_The Prince"s Palace_
_Cinderella._ Here I am at the palace. Please announce me as the Lady from Far Away.
_Herald._ The Lady from Far Away!