A long time ago there lived a happy family: a father, a mother and their only daughter, whom her parents loved very much. They lived carefree and joyfully for many years.
Unfortunately, one autumn, when the girl was sixteen years old, her mother became seriously ill and died a week later. A deep sadness reigned in the house.
Two years have passed. The girl's father met a widow who had two daughters, and soon married her.
From day one, the stepmother hated her stepdaughter. She forced her to do all the housework and did not give her a moment's rest. Every now and then I heard:
- Come on, get moving, lazy one, bring some water!
- Come on, slacker, sweep the floor!
- Well, what are you waiting for, dirty fellow, throw some wood in the fireplace!
The girl was indeed always covered in ash and dust from dirty work. Soon everyone, even her father, began to call her Cinderella, and she herself forgot her name.
Cinderella's stepsisters were no different in character from their angry and grumpy mother. Jealous of the girl's beauty, they forced her to serve them and found fault with her all the time.
One day, a rumor spread around the area that the young prince, bored alone in his large palace, was going to throw a ball, and not just one, but several days in a row.
“Well, my dears,” said the stepmother to her ugly daughters, “Fate has finally smiled at you.” We're going to the ball. I am sure that the prince will definitely like one of you and he will want to marry her.
– Don’t worry, we will find some minister for the other one.
The sisters couldn't be happier. On the day of the ball, they never left the mirror, trying on outfits. Finally in the evening, dressed up and dressed up, they got into a carriage and drove to the palace. But before leaving, the stepmother sternly said to Cinderella:
And don't think that you'll be idle while we're not home. I'll find a job for you.
She looked around. On the table, near a large pumpkin, there were two plates: one with millet, the other with poppy seeds. The stepmother poured the millet into a plate with poppy seeds and stirred.
“And here’s something for you to do all night: separate the millet from the poppy seeds.”
Cinderella was left alone. For the first time ever, she cried out of resentment and despair. How to sort through all this and separate millet from poppy seeds? And how can one not cry when all the girls are having fun today at the ball in the palace, and she is sitting here, in rags, all alone?
Suddenly the room lit up with light, and a beauty appeared in a white dress and with a crystal wand in her hand.
– You would like to go to the ball, wouldn’t you?
- Oh yes! – Cinderella answered with a sigh.
“Don’t be sad, Cinderella,” she said, “I’m a good fairy.” Now let's figure out how to help your trouble.
With these words, she touched the plate that stood on the table with her chopstick. In an instant, the millet separated from the poppy seed.
– Do you promise to be obedient in everything? Then I will help you go to the ball. “The sorceress hugged Cinderella and told her: “Go to the garden and bring me a pumpkin.”
Cinderella ran to the garden, chose the best pumpkin and took it to the sorceress, although she could not understand how the pumpkin would help her get to the ball.
The sorceress hollowed out the pumpkin right down to the crust, then touched it with her magic wand, and the pumpkin instantly turned into a gilded carriage.
Then the sorceress looked into the mousetrap and saw that six live mice were sitting there.
She told Cinderella to open the mousetrap door. She touched every mouse that jumped out of there with a magic wand, and the mouse immediately turned into a beautiful horse.
And now, instead of six mice, an excellent team of six horses of the dappled mouse color appeared.
The sorceress thought:
- Where can I get a coachman from?
“I’ll go and see if there’s a rat in the rat trap,” said Cinderella. “You can make a coachman out of a rat.”
- Right! – the sorceress agreed. - Go take a look.
Cinderella brought a rat trap where three large rats were sitting.
The sorceress chose one, the largest and most mustachioed, touched it with her wand, and the rat turned into a fat coachman with a lush mustache.
Then the sorceress said to Cinderella:
– There are six lizards sitting in the garden, behind a watering can. Go get them for me.
Before Cinderella had time to bring the lizards, the sorceress turned them into six servants dressed in gold-embroidered liveries. They jumped onto the back of the carriage so deftly, as if they had never done anything else their entire lives.
“Well, now you can go to the ball,” said the sorceress to Cinderella. -Are you satisfied?
- Certainly! But how can I go in such a disgusting dress?
The sorceress touched Cinderella with her wand, and the old dress instantly turned into an outfit of gold and silver brocade, richly embroidered with precious stones.
In addition, the sorceress gave her a pair of glass slippers. The world has never seen such beautiful shoes!
- Go to the ball, my dear! You deserve it! - exclaimed the fairy. “But remember, Cinderella, at exactly midnight the power of my spell will end: your dress will again turn into rags, and your carriage into an ordinary pumpkin.” Remember this!
Cinderella promised the sorceress to leave the palace before midnight and, beaming with happiness, went to the ball.
The king's son was informed that an unknown, very important princess had arrived. He hurried to meet her, helped her out of the carriage and led her into the hall where the guests had already gathered.
When Cinderella, dressed like a princess, entered the ballroom, everyone fell silent and looked towards the unfamiliar beauty.
- Who else is this? – Cinderella’s stepsisters asked displeasedly.
Silence immediately fell in the hall: the guests stopped dancing, the violinists stopped playing - everyone was so amazed by the beauty of the unfamiliar princess.
- What a beautiful girl! - they whispered around.
Even the old king himself could not get enough of her and kept repeating in the queen’s ear that he had not seen such a beautiful and sweet girl for a long time.
And the ladies carefully examined her outfit in order to order exactly the same one for themselves tomorrow, but they were afraid that they would not find enough rich materials and enough skilled craftswomen.
The prince took her to the place of honor and invited her to dance. She danced so well that everyone admired her even more.
Soon various sweets and fruits were served. But the prince did not touch the delicacies - he was so busy with the beautiful princess.
And she went up to her sisters, spoke warmly to them and shared the oranges that the prince had treated her to.
The sisters were very surprised at such kindness from the unfamiliar princess.
But time flew inexorably forward. Remembering the words of the good fairy, Cinderella kept glancing at her watch. At five minutes to twelve the girl suddenly stopped dancing and ran out of the palace. A golden carriage was already waiting for her at the porch. The horses neighed joyfully and took Cinderella home.
Returning home, she first of all ran to the good sorceress, thanked her and said that she would like to go to the ball again tomorrow - the prince really asked her to come.
While she was telling the sorceress about everything that happened at the ball, there was a knock on the door - the sisters had arrived. Cinderella went to open the door for them.
- You spent a long time at the ball! - she said, rubbing her eyes and stretching as if she had just woken up.
In fact, since they broke up, she hasn't felt like sleeping at all.
“If you attended the ball,” said one of the sisters, “you would never be bored.” The princess arrived there - and how beautiful she is! There is no one more beautiful than her in the world. She was very kind to us and treated us to oranges.
Cinderella trembled all over with joy. She asked what the princess's name was, but the sisters replied that no one knew her and the prince was very upset about this. He would give anything to know who she was.
- She must be very beautiful! – Cinderella said smiling. - And you are lucky! How I would like to look at her at least with one eye!.. Dear sister, please lend me your yellow house dress.
- I just made it up! - answered the older sister. - Why would I give my dress to such a dirty person? No way in the world!
Cinderella knew that her sister would refuse her, and she was even happy - what would she do if her sister agreed to give her her dress!
– Did you do what I told you? – the stepmother asked sternly.
Imagine the surprise of the evil stepmother and her daughters when they saw that everything in the house was sparkling clean, and the poppy seeds were separated from the millet!
The next evening, the stepmother and Cinderella's stepsisters again gathered for the ball.
- This time you will have more work“,” said the stepmother, “here’s a bag of peas mixed with beans.” Separate the peas from the beans before our arrival, otherwise you will have a bad time!
And again Cinderella was left alone. But a minute later the room was again illuminated with a wonderful light.
“Let’s not waste time,” said the good fairy, “we need to get ready for the ball as soon as possible, Cinderella.” “With one wave of her magic wand, the fairy separated the peas from the beans.
Cinderella went to the ball and was even more elegant than the first time. The prince did not leave her side and whispered all sorts of pleasantries to her.
But this time, Cinderella, carried away by the handsome prince, completely forgot about time. Music, dancing and happiness took her to the sky.
Cinderella had a lot of fun, and she completely forgot about what the sorceress ordered her. She thought that it was not yet eleven o'clock, when suddenly the clock began to strike midnight.
Is it really midnight already? But the clock inexorably struck twelve times.
Having come to her senses, Cinderella snatched her hand from the prince’s and hurried out of the palace. The prince rushed to catch up with her. But the scarlet shoes flashed faster than lightning along the steps of the wide palace staircase. The prince did not have time to catch up with the girl. He only heard the door slam and the wheels of the carriage driving away creaked.
Saddened, he stood at the top of the stairs and was about to leave when he suddenly noticed something below. It was a shoe that a beautiful stranger had lost.
The young man carefully, like some kind of jewel, picked her up and pressed her to his chest. He will find the mysterious princess, even if he has to search for her all his life!
He asked the guards at the gate if anyone had seen where the princess had gone. The guards replied that they only saw a poorly dressed girl run out of the palace, looking more like a peasant woman than a princess.
Cinderella ran home out of breath, without a carriage, without servants, in her old dress. Of all the luxury, she only had one glass slipper left.
When Cinderella returned home almost at dawn, her stepmother and stepsisters had already arrived from the ball.
- Where have you been? Have you been idle again? - they asked displeasedly.
But then the stepmother’s face twisted with anger. In the corner of the kitchen she saw two bags of peas and beans - her task was completed.
Cinderella asked the sisters if they had as much fun as yesterday, and if the beautiful princess came again.
The sisters replied that she had arrived, but only when the clock began to strike midnight did she start running - so quickly that she dropped her beautiful glass slipper from her foot. The prince picked up the shoe and did not take his eyes off it until the end of the ball. It is clear that he is in love with the beautiful princess - the owner of the shoe.
After the disappearance of the beauty, the prince stopped giving balls in the palace, and a rumor spread throughout the entire area that he was looking throughout the kingdom for that same mysterious beauty who appeared at the ball twice, but both times disappeared exactly at midnight. It was also known that the prince would marry a girl who would fit the scarlet slipper.
First, the shoe was tried on for princesses, then for duchesses, then for all the court ladies in a row. But she was no good for anyone.
Soon the prince and his retinue came to the house where Cinderella lived. The stepsisters rushed to try on the shoe. But the elegant shoe never wanted to fit on their big feet. The prince was about to leave when suddenly Cinderella’s father said:
- Wait, Your Highness, we have another daughter!
Hope flashed in the prince's eyes.
“Don’t listen to him, your highness,” the stepmother immediately intervened. -What kind of daughter is this? This is our maid, the eternal mess.
The prince looked sadly at the dirty girl dressed in rags and sighed.
“Well, every girl in my kingdom should try on the shoe.”
Cinderella took off her rough shoe and easily put the slipper on her graceful foot. It suited her just right.
The sisters were very surprised. But what was their amazement when Cinderella took out a second identical shoe from her pocket and put it on the other foot!
The prince looked carefully into the eyes of the girl in rags and recognized her.
- So you are my beautiful stranger!
Then the good sorceress arrived, touched Cinderella’s old dress with her wand, and before everyone’s eyes it turned into finery, even more luxurious than before. That's when the sisters saw who the beautiful princess was who was coming to the ball! They threw themselves on their knees in front of Cinderella and began to ask for forgiveness for treating her so badly.
Cinderella raised her sisters, kissed them and said that she forgives them and only asks that they always love her.
The stepmother and her daughters were taken aback. And in the following days they had even more reasons for envy.
Cinderella in her luxurious outfit was taken to the palace to the prince. She seemed even more beautiful to him than before. And a few days later he married her, and had a magnificent wedding.
A magnificent ball was given in the palace, at which Cinderella was in a delightful outfit and danced with the prince until midnight and even longer, because now the good fairy’s charms were no longer needed.
Cinderella was as kind in soul as she was beautiful in face. She took the sisters to her palace and on the same day married them to two court nobles.
And everyone lived happily ever after.
A long time ago there lived a happy family: a father, a mother and their only daughter, whom her parents loved very much. They lived carefree and joyfully for many years.
Unfortunately, one autumn, when the girl was sixteen years old, her mother became seriously ill and died a week later. A deep sadness reigned in the house.
Two years have passed. The girl's father met a widow who had two daughters, and soon married her.
From day one, the stepmother hated her stepdaughter. She forced her to do all the housework and did not give her a moment's rest. Every now and then I heard:
- Come on, get moving, lazy one, bring some water!
- Come on, slacker, sweep the floor!
- Well, what are you waiting for, dirty fellow, throw some wood in the fireplace!
The girl was indeed always covered in ash and dust from dirty work. Soon everyone, even her father, began to call her Cinderella, and she herself forgot her name.
Cinderella's stepsisters were no different in character from their angry and grumpy mother. Jealous of the girl's beauty, they forced her to serve them and found fault with her all the time.
One day, a rumor spread around the area that the young prince, bored alone in his large palace, was going to throw a ball, and not just one, but several days in a row.
“Well, my dears,” said the stepmother to her ugly daughters, “Fate has finally smiled at you.” We're going to the ball. I am sure that the prince will definitely like one of you and he will want to marry her.
– Don’t worry, we will find some minister for the other one.
The sisters couldn't be happier. On the day of the ball, they never left the mirror, trying on outfits. Finally in the evening, dressed up and dressed up, they got into a carriage and drove to the palace. But before leaving, the stepmother sternly said to Cinderella:
And don't think that you'll be idle while we're not home. I'll find a job for you.
She looked around. On the table, near a large pumpkin, there were two plates: one with millet, the other with poppy seeds. The stepmother poured the millet into a plate with poppy seeds and stirred.
“And here’s something for you to do all night: separate the millet from the poppy seeds.”
Cinderella was left alone. For the first time ever, she cried out of resentment and despair. How to sort through all this and separate millet from poppy seeds? And how can one not cry when all the girls are having fun today at the ball in the palace, and she is sitting here, in rags, all alone?
Suddenly the room lit up with light, and a beauty appeared in a white dress and with a crystal wand in her hand.
– You would like to go to the ball, wouldn’t you?
- Oh yes! – Cinderella answered with a sigh.
“Don’t be sad, Cinderella,” she said, “I’m a good fairy.” Now let's figure out how to help your trouble.
With these words, she touched the plate that stood on the table with her chopstick. In an instant, the millet separated from the poppy seed.
– Do you promise to be obedient in everything? Then I will help you go to the ball. “The sorceress hugged Cinderella and told her: “Go to the garden and bring me a pumpkin.”
Cinderella ran to the garden, chose the best pumpkin and took it to the sorceress, although she could not understand how the pumpkin would help her get to the ball.
The sorceress hollowed out the pumpkin right down to the crust, then touched it with her magic wand, and the pumpkin instantly turned into a gilded carriage.
Then the sorceress looked into the mousetrap and saw that six live mice were sitting there.
She told Cinderella to open the mousetrap door. She touched every mouse that jumped out of there with a magic wand, and the mouse immediately turned into a beautiful horse.
And now, instead of six mice, an excellent team of six horses of the dappled mouse color appeared.
The sorceress thought:
- Where can I get a coachman from?
“I’ll go and see if there’s a rat in the rat trap,” said Cinderella. “You can make a coachman out of a rat.”
- Right! – the sorceress agreed. - Go take a look.
Cinderella brought a rat trap where three large rats were sitting.
The sorceress chose one, the largest and most mustachioed, touched it with her wand, and the rat turned into a fat coachman with a lush mustache.
Then the sorceress said to Cinderella:
– There are six lizards sitting in the garden, behind a watering can. Go get them for me.
Before Cinderella had time to bring the lizards, the sorceress turned them into six servants dressed in gold-embroidered liveries. They jumped onto the back of the carriage so deftly, as if they had never done anything else their entire lives.
“Well, now you can go to the ball,” said the sorceress to Cinderella. -Are you satisfied?
- Certainly! But how can I go in such a disgusting dress?
The sorceress touched Cinderella with her wand, and the old dress instantly turned into an outfit of gold and silver brocade, richly embroidered with precious stones.
In addition, the sorceress gave her a pair of glass slippers. The world has never seen such beautiful shoes!
- Go to the ball, my dear! You deserve it! - exclaimed the fairy. “But remember, Cinderella, at exactly midnight the power of my spell will end: your dress will again turn into rags, and your carriage into an ordinary pumpkin.” Remember this!
Cinderella promised the sorceress to leave the palace before midnight and, beaming with happiness, went to the ball.
The king's son was informed that an unknown, very important princess had arrived. He hurried to meet her, helped her out of the carriage and led her into the hall where the guests had already gathered.
When Cinderella, dressed like a princess, entered the ballroom, everyone fell silent and looked towards the unfamiliar beauty.
- Who else is this? – Cinderella’s stepsisters asked displeasedly.
Silence immediately fell in the hall: the guests stopped dancing, the violinists stopped playing - everyone was so amazed by the beauty of the unfamiliar princess.
- What a beautiful girl! - they whispered around.
Even the old king himself could not get enough of her and kept repeating in the queen’s ear that he had not seen such a beautiful and sweet girl for a long time.
And the ladies carefully examined her outfit in order to order exactly the same one for themselves tomorrow, but they were afraid that they would not find enough rich materials and enough skilled craftswomen.
The prince took her to the place of honor and invited her to dance. She danced so well that everyone admired her even more.
Soon various sweets and fruits were served. But the prince did not touch the delicacies - he was so busy with the beautiful princess.
And she went up to her sisters, spoke warmly to them and shared the oranges that the prince had treated her to.
The sisters were very surprised at such kindness from the unfamiliar princess.
But time flew inexorably forward. Remembering the words of the good fairy, Cinderella kept glancing at her watch. At five minutes to twelve the girl suddenly stopped dancing and ran out of the palace. A golden carriage was already waiting for her at the porch. The horses neighed joyfully and took Cinderella home.
Returning home, she first of all ran to the good sorceress, thanked her and said that she would like to go to the ball again tomorrow - the prince really asked her to come.
While she was telling the sorceress about everything that happened at the ball, there was a knock on the door - the sisters had arrived. Cinderella went to open the door for them.
- You spent a long time at the ball! - she said, rubbing her eyes and stretching as if she had just woken up.
In fact, since they broke up, she hasn't felt like sleeping at all.
“If you attended the ball,” said one of the sisters, “you would never be bored.” The princess arrived there - and how beautiful she is! There is no one more beautiful than her in the world. She was very kind to us and treated us to oranges.
Cinderella trembled all over with joy. She asked what the princess's name was, but the sisters replied that no one knew her and the prince was very upset about this. He would give anything to know who she was.
- She must be very beautiful! – Cinderella said smiling. - And you are lucky! How I would like to look at her at least with one eye!.. Dear sister, please lend me your yellow house dress.
- I just made it up! - answered the older sister. - Why would I give my dress to such a dirty person? No way in the world!
Cinderella knew that her sister would refuse her, and she was even happy - what would she do if her sister agreed to give her her dress!
– Did you do what I told you? – the stepmother asked sternly.
Imagine the surprise of the evil stepmother and her daughters when they saw that everything in the house was sparkling clean, and the poppy seeds were separated from the millet!
The next evening, the stepmother and Cinderella's stepsisters again gathered for the ball.
“This time you will have more work,” said the stepmother, “here’s a bag of peas mixed with beans.” Separate the peas from the beans before our arrival, otherwise you will have a bad time!
And again Cinderella was left alone. But a minute later the room was again illuminated with a wonderful light.
“Let’s not waste time,” said the good fairy, “we need to get ready for the ball as soon as possible, Cinderella.” “With one wave of her magic wand, the fairy separated the peas from the beans.
Cinderella went to the ball and was even more elegant than the first time. The prince did not leave her side and whispered all sorts of pleasantries to her.
But this time, Cinderella, carried away by the handsome prince, completely forgot about time. Music, dancing and happiness took her to the sky.
Cinderella had a lot of fun, and she completely forgot about what the sorceress ordered her. She thought that it was not yet eleven o'clock, when suddenly the clock began to strike midnight.
Is it really midnight already? But the clock inexorably struck twelve times.
Having come to her senses, Cinderella snatched her hand from the prince’s and hurried out of the palace. The prince rushed to catch up with her. But the scarlet shoes flashed faster than lightning along the steps of the wide palace staircase. The prince did not have time to catch up with the girl. He only heard the door slam and the wheels of the carriage driving away creaked.
Saddened, he stood at the top of the stairs and was about to leave when he suddenly noticed something below. It was a shoe that a beautiful stranger had lost.
The young man carefully, like some kind of jewel, picked her up and pressed her to his chest. He will find the mysterious princess, even if he has to search for her all his life!
He asked the guards at the gate if anyone had seen where the princess had gone. The guards replied that they only saw a poorly dressed girl run out of the palace, looking more like a peasant woman than a princess.
Cinderella ran home out of breath, without a carriage, without servants, in her old dress. Of all the luxury, she only had one glass slipper left.
When Cinderella returned home almost at dawn, her stepmother and stepsisters had already arrived from the ball.
- Where have you been? Have you been idle again? - they asked displeasedly.
But then the stepmother’s face twisted with anger. In the corner of the kitchen she saw two bags of peas and beans - her task was completed.
Cinderella asked the sisters if they had as much fun as yesterday, and if the beautiful princess came again.
The sisters replied that she had arrived, but only when the clock began to strike midnight did she start running - so quickly that she dropped her beautiful glass slipper from her foot. The prince picked up the shoe and did not take his eyes off it until the end of the ball. It is clear that he is in love with the beautiful princess - the owner of the shoe.
After the disappearance of the beauty, the prince stopped giving balls in the palace, and a rumor spread throughout the entire area that he was looking throughout the kingdom for that same mysterious beauty who appeared at the ball twice, but both times disappeared exactly at midnight. It was also known that the prince would marry a girl who would fit the scarlet slipper.
First, the shoe was tried on for princesses, then for duchesses, then for all the court ladies in a row. But she was no good for anyone.
Soon the prince and his retinue came to the house where Cinderella lived. The stepsisters rushed to try on the shoe. But the elegant shoe never wanted to fit on their big feet. The prince was about to leave when suddenly Cinderella’s father said:
- Wait, Your Highness, we have another daughter!
Hope flashed in the prince's eyes.
“Don’t listen to him, your highness,” the stepmother immediately intervened. -What kind of daughter is this? This is our maid, the eternal mess.
The prince looked sadly at the dirty girl dressed in rags and sighed.
“Well, every girl in my kingdom should try on the shoe.”
Cinderella took off her rough shoe and easily put the slipper on her graceful foot. It suited her just right.
The sisters were very surprised. But what was their amazement when Cinderella took out a second identical shoe from her pocket and put it on the other foot!
The prince looked carefully into the eyes of the girl in rags and recognized her.
- So you are my beautiful stranger!
Then the good sorceress arrived, touched Cinderella’s old dress with her wand, and before everyone’s eyes it turned into a magnificent outfit, even more luxurious than before.
That's when the sisters saw who the beautiful princess was who was coming to the ball! They threw themselves on their knees in front of Cinderella and began to ask for forgiveness for treating her so badly.
Cinderella raised her sisters, kissed them and said that she forgives them and only asks that they always love her.
The stepmother and her daughters were taken aback. And in the following days they had even more reasons for envy.
Cinderella in her luxurious outfit was taken to the palace to the prince. She seemed even more beautiful to him than before. And a few days later he married her, and had a magnificent wedding.
A magnificent ball was given in the palace, at which Cinderella was in a delightful outfit and danced with the prince until midnight and even longer, because now the good fairy’s charms were no longer needed.
Cinderella was as kind in soul as she was beautiful in face. She took the sisters to her palace and on the same day married them to two court nobles.
And everyone lived happily ever after.
Once upon a time there lived a venerable and noble man. His first wife died, and he married a second time, and to such a grumpy and arrogant woman as the world had never seen.
She had two daughters, very similar to their mother in face, mind, and character.
My husband also had a daughter, kind, friendly, sweet - just like her late mother. And her mother was the most beautiful and kind woman.
And so the new mistress entered the house. It was then that she showed her temper. Everything was not to her taste, but most of all she disliked her stepdaughter. The girl was so good that her stepmother's daughters seemed even worse next to her.
The poor stepdaughter was forced to do all the dirtiest and hardest work in the house: she cleaned boilers and pots, washed stairs, cleaned the rooms of her stepmother and both young ladies - her sisters.
She slept in the attic, right under the roof, on a prickly straw bed. And both sisters had rooms with parquet floors of colored wood, with beds dismantled according to latest fashion, and with large mirrors, in which it was fashionable to see oneself from head to toe.
The poor girl silently endured all the insults and did not dare to complain even to her father. The stepmother took him into such control that he now looked at everything through her eyes and would probably only scold his daughter for her ingratitude and disobedience.
In the evening, having finished work, she climbed into a corner near the fireplace and sat there on a box of ash. Therefore, the sisters, and after them everyone in the house, nicknamed her Cinderella.
Still, Cinderella, in her old dress, stained with ash, was a hundred times sweeter than her sisters, dressed in velvet and silk.
And then one day the son of the king of that country threw a big ball and called all the noble people with their wives and daughters to it.
Cinderella's sisters also received an invitation to the ball. They were very happy and immediately began to choose outfits and figure out how to style their hair in order to surprise all the guests and please the prince.
Poor Cinderella has even more work and worries than ever. She had to iron her sisters' dresses, starch their skirts, and sew collars and frills.
All the talk in the house was about outfits.
“I,” said the eldest, “will put on a red velvet dress and a precious headdress that was brought to me from overseas.”
“And I,” said the youngest, “will put on the most modest dress, but then I will have a cape embroidered with golden flowers and a diamond belt, which no noble lady has.
They sent for the most skilful milliner to make them caps with double frills, and bought flies from the best craftswoman in the city.
The sisters kept calling Cinderella over and asking her which comb, ribbon or buckle to choose. They knew that Cinderella had a better understanding of what was beautiful and what was ugly.
No one knew how to pin lace or curl curls as skillfully as she did.
- What, Cinderella, would you like to go to the royal ball? - the sisters asked while she combed their hair in front of the mirror.
- Oh, what are you saying, sisters! You are laughing at me! Will they let me into the palace in this dress and these shoes!
-What's true is true. It would be hilarious if such a dirty little thing showed up at the ball!
Another one in Cinderella’s place would have combed her sisters’ hair as badly as possible. But Cinderella was kind: she combed them as best as possible.
Two days before the ball, the sisters stopped having lunch and dinner out of excitement. They never left the mirror for a minute and tore more than a dozen laces, trying to tighten their waists and make themselves thinner and slimmer.
And finally the long-awaited day has arrived. The stepmother and sisters left.
Cinderella looked after them for a long time, and when their carriage disappeared around the bend, she covered her face with her hands and cried bitterly.
Her godmother, who just at that time came to visit the poor girl, found her in tears.
-What's wrong with you, my child? – she asked. But Cinderella cried so bitterly that she could not even answer.
– You would like to go to the ball, wouldn’t you? – asked the godmother.
She was a fairy - a sorceress - and heard not only what they said, but also what they thought.
“It’s true,” said Cinderella, sobbing.
“Well, just be smart,” said the fairy, “and I’ll make sure that you can visit the palace today.” Run to the garden and bring me a big pumpkin from there!
Cinderella ran to the garden, chose the largest pumpkin and brought it to her godmother. She really wanted to ask how a simple pumpkin would help her get to the royal ball. but she did not dare.
And the fairy, without saying a word, cut the pumpkin and took out all the pulp from it. Then she touched its thick yellow crust with her magic wand, and the empty pumpkin immediately turned into a beautiful carved carriage, gilded from roof to wheels.
Then the fairy sent Cinderella to the pantry to get a mousetrap. There were half a dozen live mice in the mousetrap.
The fairy told Cinderella to open the door slightly and release all the mice in turn, one after another. As soon as the mouse ran out of its prison, the fairy touched it with her wand, and from this touch the ordinary gray mouse immediately turned into a gray, mousey horse.
Not even a minute had passed before a magnificent team of six stately horses in silver harness stood in front of Cinderella.
The only thing missing was the coachman.
Noticing that the fairy was thoughtful, Cinderella timidly asked:
- What if we look to see if a rat is caught in the rat trap? Maybe she's fit to be a coachman?
“Your truth,” said the sorceress. - Come take a look.
Cinderella brought a rat trap, from which three large rats looked out.
The fairy chose one of them, the largest and most mustachioed, touched it with her wand, and the rat immediately turned into a fat coachman with a lush mustache - even the chief royal coachman would envy such a mustache.
“Now,” said the fairy, “go into the garden.” There, behind the watering can, on a pile of sand, you will find six lizards. Bring them here.
Before Cinderella had time to shake the lizards out of her apron, the fairy turned them into visiting footmen, dressed in green liveries, decorated with gold braid.
All six of them quickly jumped onto the back of the carriage with such an important look, as if they had served as traveling footmen all their lives and had never been lizards...
“Well,” said the fairy, “now you have your own exit, and you can go to the palace without wasting time.” What, are you satisfied?
- Very! - said Cinderella. - But is it really possible to go to the royal ball in this old dress, stained with ash?
The fairy did not answer. She just lightly touched Cinderella's dress with her magic wand, and the old dress turned into a wonderful outfit of silver and gold brocade, all strewn with precious stones.
The fairy's last gift was shoes made of the purest crystal, the likes of which no girl had ever dreamed of.
When Cinderella was completely ready, the fairy put her in a carriage and strictly ordered her to return home before midnight.
“If you are even one minute late,” she said, “your carriage will again turn into a pumpkin, the horses into mice, the footmen into lizards, and your magnificent outfit will again turn into an old, patched dress.”
- Don't worry, I won't be late! - Cinderella answered and, not remembering herself with joy, went to the palace.
The prince, who was informed that a beautiful but unknown princess had arrived at the ball, ran out to meet her. He gave her his hand, helped her out of the carriage and led her into the hall, where the king and queen and the courtiers were already present.
Everything immediately became quiet. The violins fell silent. Both the musicians and the guests involuntarily looked at the unfamiliar beauty, who arrived at the ball later than everyone else.
“Oh, how good she is!” - the gentleman said in a whisper to the gentleman and the lady to the lady.
Even the king, who was very old and was dozing more than looking around, opened his eyes, looked at Cinderella and told the queen in a low voice that he had not seen such a charming person for a long time.
The ladies of the court were only busy examining her dress and headdress in order to order something similar for themselves tomorrow, if only they could find the same skillful craftsmen and the same beautiful fabric.
The prince seated his guest in the place of honor, and as soon as the music started playing, he approached her and invited her to dance.
She danced so easily and gracefully that everyone admired her even more than before.
After the dancing, refreshments were served. But the prince could not eat anything - he did not take his eyes off his lady. And at that time Cinderella found her sisters, sat down next to them and, telling each a few nice words, treated them to oranges and lemons, which the prince himself brought to her.
They were very flattered by this. They did not expect such attention from the unfamiliar princess.
But while talking with them, Cinderella suddenly heard that the palace clock was striking eleven o’clock and three quarters. She stood up, bowed to everyone and walked towards the exit so quickly that no one had time to catch up with her.
Returning from the palace, she still managed to run to the sorceress before her stepmother and sisters arrived and thank her for the happy evening.
“Oh, if only I could go to the palace tomorrow!” - she said. - The prince asked me so...
And she told her godmother about everything that happened in the palace.
As soon as Cinderella crossed the threshold and put on her old apron and wooden shoes, there was a knock on the door. It was the stepmother and sisters who returned from the ball.
- How long have you, sisters, been staying in the palace today! - said Cinderella, yawning and stretching as if she had just woken up.
“Well, if you were with us at the ball, you wouldn’t rush home either,” said one of the sisters. “There was one princess there, such a beauty that you couldn’t see anything better in your dreams!” She must have really liked us. She sat down with us and even treated us to oranges and lemons.
- What is her name? – asked Cinderella.
“Well, no one knows that...” said the older sister.
And the youngest added:
“The prince seems ready to give half his life just to find out who she is.” Cinderella smiled.
“Is this princess really that good?” – she asked. – How happy you are!.. Can’t I take a look at her at least with one eye? Ah, sister Javotta, give me for one evening your yellow dress, which you wear at home every day!
- This was just not enough! – Javotta said, shrugging her shoulders. Give your dress to a dirty little girl like you! It seems I haven't lost my mind yet.
Cinderella did not expect a different answer and was not at all upset. Indeed, what would she do if Javotte suddenly became generous and decided to lend her her dress!
The next evening, the sisters went to the palace again - and Cinderella too... This time she was even more beautiful and elegant than the day before.
The prince did not leave her side for a minute. He was so friendly, said such pleasant things that Cinderella forgot about everything in the world, even that she had to leave on time, and only realized it when the clock began to strike midnight.
She got up and ran away faster than a doe.
The prince rushed after her, but there was no trace of her. Only on the step of the stairs lay a small glass slipper. The prince carefully picked her up and ordered her to ask the gatekeepers if any of them had seen where the beautiful princess had gone. But no one saw any princess. True, the gatekeepers noticed that some poorly dressed girl ran past them, but she looked more like a beggar than a princess.
Meanwhile, Cinderella, panting from fatigue, ran home. She no longer had a carriage or footmen. Her ballroom dress turned back into an old, worn dress, and all that was left of all her splendor was a small crystal slipper, exactly the same as the one she lost on the palace stairs.
When both sisters returned home, Cinderella asked them if they had fun at the ball today and if yesterday’s beauty came to the palace again.
The sisters vying with each other began to tell that the princess was at the ball this time too, but ran away as soon as the clock began to strike twelve.
“She was in such a hurry that she even lost her glass slipper,” said the elder sister.
“And the prince picked it up and didn’t let it out of his hands until the end of the ball,” said the youngest.
“He must be head over heels in love with this beauty who loses her shoes at balls,” added the stepmother.
And it was true. A few days later, the prince ordered it to be announced publicly, to the sound of trumpets and fanfare, that the girl who would fit the glass slipper would become his wife.
Of course, first they began to try on the shoe for princesses, then duchesses, then ladies of the court, but it was all in vain: it was too tight for duchesses, princesses, and ladies of the court.
Finally, it was the turn of Cinderella’s sisters.
Oh, how both sisters tried to pull the little shoe onto their big feet! But she didn’t even get to their fingertips. Cinderella, who recognized her shoe at first sight, looked at these futile attempts, smiling.
“But it seems like she will suit me,” said Cinderella.
The sisters burst into evil laughter. But the court gentleman, who was trying on the shoe, looked carefully at Cinderella and, noticing that she was very beautiful, said:
“I received orders from the prince to try on the shoe for all the girls in the city.” Let me have your leg, madam!
He sat Cinderella in a chair and, putting the glass slipper on her little foot, immediately saw that he would not have to try on any more: the shoe was exactly the same as the foot, and the foot was exactly the same as the shoe.
The sisters froze in surprise. But they were even more surprised when Cinderella took out a second glass slipper from her pocket - exactly the same as the first, only on the other foot - and put it on without saying a word. At that very moment the door opened and a fairy, Cinderella’s godmother, entered the room.
She touched Cinderella's poor dress with her magic wand, and it became even more magnificent and beautiful than it was the day before at the ball.
Only then did both sisters understand who the beauty they saw in the palace was. They rushed to Cinderella’s feet to beg forgiveness for all the insults she suffered from them. Cinderella forgave her sisters with all her heart - after all, she was not only pretty, but also kind.
She was taken to the palace to the young prince, who found her even more beautiful than before.
And a few days later they had a fun wedding.
At least believe it, at least check it. Cinderella and her glass slipper
Each of us is familiar with the light from childhood good fairy tale about Cinderella with pictures, written at the end of the eighteenth century by the French children's writer Charles Perrault. A fairy tale about a poor girl living in her father's fairly wealthy family with two stepsisters and an evil stepmother. About a girl forced to be a maid in own home, who humbly accepted her difficult fate, but has not forgotten how to dream and notice the bright and pure in everything that surrounds her.
The story of a magical fairy, a handsome prince and the embodiment of a girl’s deepest desires is a fairy tale about Cinderella that you want to read again and again. This story has been published a hundred times already different countries world, in more than fifty different languages, and each illustration for the fairy tale Cinderella is a real masterpiece artistic arts, subtly conveying not only the style and spirit of the era, but also elegant images in every stroke.
So, the tale of Cinderella:
Once upon a time there lived one respectable and noble man who worked a lot, traveled for a long time on business and was not at home very often. His first wife died, and he married a second time, and to such a grumpy and arrogant woman as the world had never seen.
She had two daughters, very similar to their mother in face, mind, and character.
My husband also had a daughter, kind, friendly, sweet - just like her late mother. And her mother was the most beautiful and kind woman.
And so the new mistress entered the house. It was then that she showed her temper. Everything was not to her taste, but most of all she disliked her stepdaughter. The girl was so good that her stepmother's daughters seemed even worse next to her.
The poor stepdaughter was forced to do all the dirtiest and hardest work in the house: she cleaned boilers and pots, washed stairs, cleaned the rooms of her stepmother and both young ladies - her sisters. 
She slept in the attic, right under the roof, on a prickly straw bed. And both sisters had rooms with parquet floors of colored wood, with beds decorated in the latest fashion, and with large mirrors in which it was fashionable to see oneself from head to toe.
The poor girl silently endured all the insults and did not dare to complain even to her father. The stepmother took him into such control that he now looked at everything through her eyes and would probably only scold his daughter for her ingratitude and disobedience.
In the evening, having finished work, she climbed into a corner near the fireplace and sat there on a box of ash. Therefore, the sisters, and after them everyone in the house, nicknamed her Cinderella.
And yet, kind Cinderella in her old dress, stained with ash, was a hundred times sweeter than her sisters, dressed in velvet and silk.
And then one day the son of the king of that country threw a big ball and called all the noble people with their wives and daughters to it. 
Cinderella's sisters also received an invitation to the ball. They were very happy and immediately began to choose outfits and figure out how to style their hair in order to surprise all the guests and please the prince.
Poor Cinderella has even more work and worries than ever. She had to iron her sisters' dresses, starch their skirts, straighten collars and frills.
All the talk in the house was about outfits.
“I,” said the eldest, “will put on a red velvet dress and a precious headdress that was brought to me from overseas.
And I,” said the youngest, “will wear the most modest dress, but I will have a cape embroidered with golden flowers and a diamond belt, which no noble lady has.”
They sent for the most skilful milliner to make them caps with double frills, and bought flies from the best craftswoman in the city.
The sisters kept calling Cinderella over and asking her which comb, ribbon or buckle to choose. They knew that Cinderella had a better understanding of what was beautiful and what was ugly.
No one knew how to pin lace or curl curls as skillfully as she did.
What, Cinderella, would you like to go to the royal ball? - the sisters asked while she combed their hair in front of the mirror.
Oh, what are you doing, sisters! You are laughing at me! Will they let me into the palace in this dress and these shoes!
What's true is true. It would be hilarious if such a dirty little thing showed up at the ball!
Another one in Cinderella’s place would have combed her sisters’ hair as badly as possible. But Cinderella was kind: she combed them as best as possible.
Two days before the ball, the sisters stopped having lunch and dinner out of excitement. They never left the mirror for a minute and tore more than a dozen laces, trying to tighten their waists and make themselves thinner and slimmer.
And now, finally, the long-awaited day has arrived. The stepmother and sisters left.
Cinderella looked after them for a long time, and when their carriage disappeared around the bend, she covered her face with her hands and cried bitterly.
Her godmother, who just at that time came to visit the poor girl, found her in tears.
What's wrong with you, my child? - she asked. But Cinderella cried so bitterly that she could not even answer.
You would like to go to the ball, wouldn't you? - asked the godmother.
She was a fairy - a sorceress - and heard not only what they said, but also what they thought.
True,” said Cinderella, sobbing.
Well, just be smart,” said the fairy, “and I’ll make sure that you can visit the palace today.” Run to the garden and bring me a big pumpkin from there!
Cinderella ran to the garden, chose the largest pumpkin and brought it to her godmother. She really wanted to ask how a simple pumpkin would help her get to the royal ball, but she didn’t dare.
And the fairy, without saying a word, cut the pumpkin and took out all the pulp from it. Then she touched its thick yellow crust with her magic wand, and the empty pumpkin immediately turned into a beautiful carved carriage, gilded from roof to wheels.
Then the fairy sent Cinderella to the pantry to get a mousetrap. There were half a dozen live mice in the mousetrap.
The fairy told Cinderella to open the door slightly and release all the mice in turn, one after another. As soon as the mouse ran out of its prison, the fairy touched it with her wand, and from this touch the ordinary gray mouse immediately turned into a gray, mousey horse.
Not even a minute had passed before a magnificent team of six stately horses in silver harness stood in front of Cinderella.
The only thing missing was the coachman.
Noticing that the fairy was thoughtful, Cinderella timidly asked:
What if you look to see if a rat is caught in a rat trap? Maybe she's fit to be a coachman?
“Your truth,” said the sorceress. - Go and look.
Cinderella brought a rat trap, from which three large rats looked out.
The fairy chose one of them, the largest and most mustachioed, touched it with her wand, and the rat immediately turned into a fat coachman with a lush mustache - even the chief royal coachman would envy such a mustache.
“And now,” said the fairy, “go into the garden.” There, behind the watering can, on a pile of sand, you will find six lizards. Bring them here.
Before Cinderella had time to shake the lizards out of her apron, the fairy turned them into visiting footmen, dressed in green liveries, decorated with gold braid.
All six of them quickly jumped onto the back of the carriage with such an important look, as if they had served as traveling footmen all their lives and had never been lizards...
Well,” said the fairy, “now you have your own exit, and you can go to the palace without wasting time.” What, are you satisfied?
Very! - said Cinderella. - But is it really possible to go to the royal ball in this old dress, stained with ash?
The fairy did not answer. She just lightly touched Cinderella's dress with her magic wand, and the old dress turned into a wonderful outfit of silver and gold brocade, all strewn with precious stones.
The fairy's last gift was shoes made of the purest crystal, the likes of which no girl had ever dreamed of.
When Cinderella was completely ready, the fairy put her in a carriage and strictly ordered her to return home before midnight.
If you are late for even one minute,” she said, “your carriage will again turn into a pumpkin, the horses into mice, the footmen into lizards, and your magnificent outfit will again turn into an old, patched dress.
Don't worry, I won't be late! - Cinderella answered and, not remembering herself with joy, went to the palace.
The prince, who was informed that a beautiful but unknown princess had arrived at the ball, ran out to meet her. He gave her his hand, helped her out of the carriage and led her into the hall, where the king and queen and the courtiers were already present.
Everything immediately became quiet. The violins fell silent. Both the musicians and the guests involuntarily looked at the unfamiliar beauty, who arrived at the ball later than everyone else.
“Oh, how good she is!” - the gentleman said in a whisper to the gentleman and the lady to the lady.
Even the king, who was very old and was dozing more than looking around, opened his eyes, looked at Cinderella and told the queen in a low voice that he had not seen such a charming person for a long time.
The ladies of the court were only busy examining her dress and headdress in order to order something similar for themselves tomorrow, if only they could find the same skillful craftsmen and the same beautiful fabric.
The prince seated his guest in the place of honor, and as soon as the music started playing, he approached her and invited her to dance.
She danced so easily and gracefully that everyone admired her even more than before.
After the dancing, refreshments were served. But the prince could not eat anything - he did not take his eyes off his lady. And at this time Cinderella found her sisters, sat down with them and, having said a few pleasant words to each, treated them to oranges and lemons, which the prince himself brought to her.
They were very flattered by this. They did not expect such attention from the unfamiliar princess.
But while talking with them, Cinderella suddenly heard that the palace clock was striking eleven o’clock and three quarters. She stood up, bowed to everyone and walked towards the exit so quickly that no one had time to catch up with her.
Returning from the palace, she still managed to run to the sorceress before her stepmother and sisters arrived and thank her for the happy evening.
Oh, if only I could go to the palace tomorrow! - she said. - The prince asked me so...
And she told her godmother about everything that happened in the palace.
“Okay,” said the fairy. - I'll help you again.
As soon as Cinderella crossed the threshold and put on her old apron and wooden shoes, there was a knock on the door. It was the stepmother and sisters who returned from the ball.
How long have you, sisters, been staying in the palace today! - said Cinderella, yawning and stretching as if she had just woken up.
Well, if you were with us at the ball, you wouldn’t rush home either,” said one of the sisters. - There was one princess there, such a beauty that you couldn’t see anything better in your dreams! She must have really liked us. She sat down with us and even treated us to oranges and lemons.
What is her name? - asked Cinderella.
Well, no one knows that... - said the elder sister.
And the youngest added:
The prince seems ready to give half his life just to find out who she is.
Cinderella smiled.
Is this princess really that good? - she asked. - How happy you are!.. Is it possible for me to look at her at least with one eye? Ah, sister Javotta, give me for one evening your yellow dress, which you wear at home every day!
This was just not enough! - Javotta said, shrugging her shoulders. Give your dress to a dirty little girl like you! It seems I haven't lost my mind yet.
Cinderella did not expect a different answer and was not at all upset. Indeed, what would she do if Javotte suddenly became generous and decided to lend her her dress!
The next evening, the sisters again went to the palace - and Cinderella, with the help of the good fairy, too...
This time she was even more beautiful and elegant than the day before.
The prince did not leave her side for a minute. He was so friendly, said such pleasant things that Cinderella forgot about everything in the world, even that she had to leave on time, and only realized it when the clock began to strike midnight.
She got up and ran away faster than a doe.
The prince rushed after her, but there was no trace of her. Only on the step of the stairs lay a small glass slipper.
The prince carefully picked up the shoe and ordered the gatekeepers to be asked if any of them had seen where the beautiful princess had gone. But no one saw any princess. True, the gatekeepers noticed that some poorly dressed girl ran past them, but she looked more like a beggar than a princess.
Meanwhile, Cinderella, panting from fatigue, ran home. She no longer had a carriage or footmen. Her ballroom dress turned back into an old, worn dress, and all that was left of all her splendor was a small crystal slipper, exactly the same as the one she lost on the palace stairs.
When both sisters returned home, Cinderella asked them if they had fun at the ball today and if yesterday’s beauty came to the palace again.
The sisters vying with each other began to tell that the princess was at the ball this time too, but ran away as soon as the clock began to strike twelve.
She was in such a hurry that she even lost her glass slipper,” said the elder sister.
“And the prince picked it up and didn’t let it out of his hands until the end of the ball,” said the youngest.
“He must be head over heels in love with this beauty who loses her shoes at balls,” added the stepmother.
And it was true. A few days later, the prince ordered it to be announced publicly, to the sound of trumpets and fanfare, that the girl who would fit the glass slipper would become his wife.
And he sent his general with a team of soldiers to try on the shoe for all the girls in the kingdom.
Of course, first they began to try on the shoe for princesses, then duchesses, then ladies of the court, but it was all in vain: it was too tight for duchesses, princesses, and ladies of the court.
Finally, it was the turn of Cinderella’s sisters.
Oh, how both sisters tried to pull the little shoe onto their big feet! But she didn’t even get to their fingertips. Cinderella, who recognized her shoe at first sight, looked at these futile attempts, smiling.
“But she seems to fit me well,” said Cinderella.
The sisters burst into evil laughter. But the general, who was trying on the shoe, looked carefully at Cinderella and, noticing that she was very beautiful, said:
I received orders from the prince to try on the shoe for all the girls in the city. Let me have your leg, madam!
He sat Cinderella in a chair and, putting the glass slipper on her little foot, immediately saw that he wouldn’t have to try on any more: the shoe was exactly the same as the foot, and the foot was exactly the same as the shoe.
The sisters froze in surprise. But they were even more surprised when Cinderella took a second glass slipper from her pocket - exactly the same as the first, only on the other foot - and put it on without saying a word. At that very moment the door opened and a fairy, Cinderella's godmother, entered the room.
She touched Cinderella's poor dress with her magic wand, and it became even more magnificent and beautiful than it was the day before at the ball.
Only then did both sisters understand who the beauty they saw in the palace was. They rushed to Cinderella’s feet to beg forgiveness for all the insults she suffered from them. Cinderella forgave her sisters with all her heart - after all, she was not only pretty, but also kind.
The general, accompanied by a team of soldiers, took her to the palace to the young prince, who found that she had become even more beautiful than before.
And a few days later they had a fun wedding.
From an early age, pictures for the fairy tale Cinderella help children not only get acquainted with the wonderful traditions of the Middle Ages, but also learn to revive in their imagination the images of literary heroes that they hear about from their parents. Today, paper publications have given way to electronic libraries: it is incredibly convenient and allows you to open your favorite work almost anywhere in the world. Like many other works, the fairy tale about Cinderella is convenient to read online not only for adults, but also for children who have already learned to read and write.
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Here you can download or read online the book “Cinderella” by Charles Perrault for free
Download the book "Cinderella" for free
Charles Perrault
Cinderella
Once upon a time there lived a rich and noble man. His wife died, and he married a second time to such a heartless and proud woman as you will never find anywhere else. She had two daughters, who were just like their mother in every way - the same arrogant, angry people. And my husband had a daughter who was extremely meek and affectionate, just like her late mother, the kindest woman in the world.
The stepmother immediately showed her evil temper. She was irritated by her stepdaughter's kindness - next to this sweet girl, her own daughters seemed even nastier.
The stepmother charged the girl with all the dirtiest and hardest work in the house: she cleaned the dishes, washed the stairs, and polished the floors in the rooms of the capricious stepmother and her spoiled daughters. She slept in the attic, right under the roof, on a thin bedding. And her sisters had bedrooms with parquet floors, feather beds and floor-to-ceiling mirrors.
The poor girl endured everything and was afraid to complain to her father - he would only scold her, because he obeyed his new wife in everything.
Having finished her work, the poor thing huddled in a corner near the fireplace and sat right on the ashes, for which her eldest stepmother’s daughter nicknamed her Zamarashka. But the younger one, not as rude as her sister, began to call her Cinderella. And Cinderella, even in an old dress, was a hundred times cuter than her dolled-up sisters.
One day, the king’s son decided to throw a ball and called all the noble people in the kingdom to it. Cinderella's sisters were also invited. How happy they were, how they fussed about, choosing their outfits and jewelry! And Cinderella only had more work: she had to iron skirts and starch collars for her sisters.
The sisters talked endlessly about how best to dress up.
“I,” said the eldest, “will wear a red velvet dress with lace...
“And I,” the younger one interrupted her, will wear an ordinary dress. But on top I’ll throw a cape with gold flowers and diamond clasps. Not everyone has one like this!
They ordered bonnets with double frills from the best craftswoman and bought the most expensive ribbons. And they asked Cinderella for advice on everything, because she had very good taste. She tried with all her heart to help her sisters and even offered to do their hair. To this they graciously agreed.
While Cinderella was combing their hair, they asked her:
- Admit it, Cinderella, would you really like to go to the ball?
- Oh, sisters, don’t laugh at me! Will they let me in there?
- Yes, it’s true! Everyone would roar with laughter if they saw such a mess at the ball.
Another would have deliberately combed them worse for this, but Cinderella, out of her kindness, tried to comb them as best as possible.
The sisters did not eat anything for two days out of joy and excitement, tried to tighten their waists and kept spinning in front of the mirror.
Finally the longed-for day arrived. The sisters went to the ball, and Cinderella watched them for a long time. When their carriage was out of sight, she cried bitterly.
Cinderella's aunt saw that the poor girl was crying and asked why she was so upset.
- I would like... I would like... - Cinderella could not finish from tears.
But my aunt guessed it herself (she was a sorceress, after all):
- You would like to go to the ball, wouldn’t you?
- Oh yes! - Cinderella answered with a sigh.
- Do you promise to be obedient in everything? - asked the sorceress. - Then I will help you go to the ball. - The sorceress hugged Cinderella and told her: - Go to the garden and bring me a pumpkin.
Cinderella ran to the garden, chose the best pumpkin and took it to the sorceress, although she could not understand how the pumpkin would help her get to the ball.
The sorceress hollowed out the pumpkin right down to the crust, then touched it with her magic wand, and the pumpkin instantly turned into a gilded carriage.
Then the sorceress looked into the mousetrap and saw that six live mice were sitting there.
She told Cinderella to open the mousetrap door. She touched every mouse that jumped out of there with a magic wand, and the mouse immediately turned into a beautiful horse.
And now, instead of six mice, an excellent team of six horses of the dappled mouse color appeared.
The sorceress thought:
- Where can I get a coachman from?
“I’ll go and see if there’s a rat in the rat trap,” said Cinderella. - You can make a coachman out of a rat.
- Right! - the sorceress agreed. - Go take a look.
Cinderella brought a rat trap where three large rats were sitting.
The sorceress chose one, the largest and most mustachioed, touched it with her wand, and the rat turned into a fat coachman with a lush mustache.
Then the sorceress said to Cinderella:
- In the garden, behind the watering can, six lizards are sitting. Go get them for me.
Before Cinderella had time to bring the lizards, the sorceress turned them into six servants dressed in gold-embroidered liveries. They jumped onto the back of the carriage so deftly, as if they had never done anything else their entire lives.
“Well, now you can go to the ball,” said the sorceress to Cinderella. -Are you satisfied?
- Certainly! But how can I go in such a disgusting dress?
The sorceress touched Cinderella with her wand, and the old dress instantly turned into an outfit of gold and silver brocade, richly embroidered with precious stones.
In addition, the sorceress gave her a pair of glass slippers. The world has never seen such beautiful shoes!
Magnificently dressed, Cinderella sat down in the carriage. At parting, the sorceress strictly ordered her to return before the clock struck midnight.
“If you stay even a minute longer,” she said, “your carriage will again become a pumpkin, the horses will turn into mice, the servants into lizards, and your magnificent outfit into an old dress.”
Cinderella promised the sorceress to leave the palace before midnight and, beaming with happiness, went to the ball.
The king's son was informed that an unknown, very important princess had arrived. He hurried to meet her, helped her out of the carriage and led her into the hall where the guests had already gathered.
There was immediately silence in the hall: the guests stopped dancing, the violinists stopped playing - everyone was so amazed by the beauty of the unfamiliar princess.
- What a beautiful girl! - they whispered around.
Even the old king himself could not get enough of her and kept repeating in the queen’s ear that he had not seen such a beautiful and sweet girl for a long time.
And the ladies carefully examined her outfit in order to order exactly the same one for themselves tomorrow, but they were afraid that they would not find enough rich materials and enough skilled craftswomen.
The prince took her to the place of honor and invited her to dance. She danced so well that everyone admired her even more.
Soon various sweets and fruits were served. But the prince did not touch the delicacies - he was so busy with the beautiful princess.
And she went up to her sisters, spoke warmly to them and shared the oranges that the prince had treated her to.
The sisters were very surprised at such kindness from the unfamiliar princess.
In the midst of the conversation, Cinderella suddenly heard that the clock struck three quarters of eleven. She quickly said goodbye to everyone and hurried away.
Returning home, she first of all ran to the good sorceress, thanked her and said that she would like to go to the ball again tomorrow - the prince really asked her to come.
While she was telling the sorceress about everything that happened at the ball, there was a knock on the door - the sisters had arrived. Cinderella went to open the door for them.
- You spent a long time at the ball! - she said, rubbing her eyes and stretching as if she had just woken up.
In fact, since they broke up, she hasn't felt like sleeping at all.
“If you attended the ball,” said one of the sisters, “you would never be bored.” The princess arrived there - and how beautiful she is! There is no one more beautiful than her in the world. She was very kind to us and treated us to oranges.
Cinderella trembled all over with joy. She asked what the princess's name was, but the sisters replied that no one knew her and the prince was very upset about this. He would give anything to know who she was.
- She must be very beautiful! - Cinderella said smiling. - And you are lucky! How I would like to look at her at least with one eye!.. Dear sister, please lend me your yellow house dress.
Here's something else I came up with! - answered the elder sister. - Why would I give my dress to such a dirty person? No way in the world!
Cinderella knew that her sister would refuse her, and she was even happy - what would she do if her sister agreed to give her her dress!
The next day, Cinderella’s sisters went to the ball again. Cinderella went too and was even more elegant than the first time. The prince did not leave her side and whispered all sorts of pleasantries to her.
Cinderella had a lot of fun, and she completely forgot about what the sorceress ordered her. She thought that it was not yet eleven o'clock, when suddenly the clock began to strike midnight. She jumped up and flew away like a bird. The prince rushed after her, but could not catch up with her.
In her haste, Cinderella lost one of her glass slippers. The prince carefully picked it up.
He asked the guards at the gate if anyone had seen where the princess had gone. The guards replied that they only saw a poorly dressed girl run out of the palace, looking more like a peasant woman than a princess.
Cinderella ran home out of breath, without a carriage, without servants, in her old dress. Of all the luxury, she only had one glass slipper left.
When the sisters returned from the ball, Cinderella asked them if they had as much fun as yesterday and if the beautiful princess came again.
The sisters replied that she had arrived, but only when the clock began to strike midnight did she start running - so quickly that she dropped her beautiful glass slipper from her foot. The prince picked up the shoe and did not take his eyes off it until the end of the ball. It is clear that he is in love with the beautiful princess - the owner of the shoe.
The sisters told the truth: a few days passed - and the prince announced throughout the kingdom that he would marry the girl whose foot was the same as the glass slipper.
First, the shoe was tried on for princesses, then for duchesses, then for all the court ladies in a row. But she was no good for anyone.
They brought the glass slipper to Cinderella's sisters. They tried their best to squeeze their foot into the tiny shoe, but they didn’t succeed.
Cinderella saw how they were trying, recognized her shoe and asked with a smile:
-Can I try on the shoe too?
The sisters only made fun of her in response.
But the courtier, who came with the slipper, looked carefully at Cinderella. He saw how beautiful she was and said that he was given orders to try on the shoe for all the girls in the kingdom. He sat Cinderella in a chair and barely brought the shoe to her foot before she slipped on completely loosely.
The sisters were very surprised. But what was their amazement when Cinderella took out a second identical shoe from her pocket and put it on the other foot!
Then the good sorceress arrived, touched Cinderella’s old dress with her wand, and before everyone’s eyes it turned into a magnificent outfit, even more luxurious than before.
That's when the sisters saw who the beautiful princess was who was coming to the ball! They threw themselves on their knees in front of Cinderella and began to ask for forgiveness for treating her so badly.
Cinderella raised her sisters, kissed them and said that she forgives them and only asks that they always love her.
Then Cinderella in her luxurious outfit was taken to the palace to the prince. She seemed even more beautiful to him than before. And a few days later he married her.
Cinderella was as kind in soul as she was beautiful in face. She took the sisters to her palace and on the same day married them to two court nobles.
About the artist of this book
Leningrad graphic artist Alexey Dmitrievich Reipolsky (b. 1945) specializes mainly in the field of book illustration, although he also works in easel watercolors and printmaking. He received his professional training at the graphic department of the Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture named after I. E. Repin, having completed a course in the workshop of the prominent artist and teacher M. A. Taranov. Already Reipolsky’s graduation work - illustrations for F. M. Dostoevsky’s novel “The Gambler” (1969) - attracted the attention of viewers. A member of the Union of Artists of the USSR, a participant in many art and printing exhibitions, Reipolsky collaborates with various publishing houses in Moscow and Leningrad, also working for magazines and collections.
The first book designed by the artist was a collection of stories and short stories by V. Lebedev “High Field” (L., 1971). The laconic contour drawing, devoid of cut-off modeling and only occasionally enlivened by fine shading, was subsequently used by the artist in other publications, for example, in the book “Radishchev in St. Petersburg” (L., 1976). The illustrations for “Admiral Ushakov” by L. Rakovsky (L., 1973) and for the adventure story “Listen to the Song of Feathers” (L., 1974) by N. Vnukov were designed in a completely different way. On the dense black background of these linocuts, with an energetic white stroke, figures, buildings, and scenes of naval battles are clearly outlined and sometimes voluminously sculpted.
Working on “Cinderella” is not the artist’s first turn to the work of the famous French storyteller Charles Perrault. In 1978, The Sleeping Beauty was published with designs by Reipolsky. The illustrations for “Cinderella” are “illuminated” (hand-painted with watercolors) etching prints.
In his illustrations, Reipolsky precisely follows the text, helping the young reader vividly enter the atmosphere of the events described. Slightly stylized in the manner of French engraving of the 17th century, these light, easy-to-execute images combine the desire to convey the magical spirit of a charming old fairy tale with the accuracy and observation of full-scale work; they carry the convincingness of the images and the authenticity of even small details. They give a clear idea of both the era and the peculiarities of the national life of the characters in the story.
S. Levandovsky