Story Hour Readers Part 5

And then it dreams of pleasant things-- Of fountains filled with fairy fish, And trees that bear delicious fruit, And bow their branches at a wish.

Of arbors filled with dainty scents From lovely flowers that never fade; Bright flies that glitter in the sun, And glowworms shining in the shade.

And talking birds with gifted tongues, For singing songs and telling tales, And pretty dwarfs to show the way Through fairy hills and fairy dales.

But when a bad child goes to bed, From left to right she weaves her rings, And then it dreams all through the night Of only ugly, horrid things!

Then lions come with glaring eyes, And tigers growl, a dreadful noise, And ogres draw their cruel knives, To shed the blood of girls and boys.

Then stormy waves rush on to drown, Or raging flames come scorching round, Fierce dragons hover in the air, And serpents crawl along the ground.

Then wicked children wake and weep, And wish the long black gloom away; But good ones love the dark, and find The night as pleasant as the day.

THOMAS HOOD.

CINDERELLA

Once upon a time, there was a proud, selfish woman who had three daughters. The youngest was prettier than her sisters, and they were jealous of her beauty. They made her do all the housework, while they went to parties and b.a.l.l.s.

The girl washed the dishes and swept the floors. She tended the fire and fed the parrot whose cage hung by the kitchen window. She spent so much time among the ashes and cinders, that her sisters called her Cinderella.

Now it happened that the king was to give a ball, in honor of the young prince. Cinderella's mother and sisters were invited.

How pleased they were to receive the invitation! They could think of nothing but the fine clothes they intended to wear.

They sent for the best dressmaker they could find. The oldest sister chose a pink silk gown. "I shall wear my red satin cloak trimmed with swan's-down," said she.

The second sister chose a gown of green velvet, saying, "The green velvet will show my diamonds to advantage."

The night of the great ball came at last. Cinderella helped her sisters to dress.

"Do you not wish that you were going to the ball?" said one of them.

"Yes, indeed!" sighed poor Cinderella.

But her sisters only laughed.

Cinderella watched them from the kitchen window as they drove away in their fine carriage. Then she sat down by the fire and began to cry.

"Why are you crying, Cinderella?" said some one gently.

There stood her Fairy G.o.dmother.

"I wish I could--I wish I could--" sobbed Cinderella.

"You wish that you could go to the prince's ball," said the Fairy G.o.dmother.

"Yes," nodded Cinderella.

"Stop crying and you may go," said the Fairy G.o.dmother. "Run into the garden and bring me the largest pumpkin that you can find."

Cinderella could not think how a pumpkin would help her to go, but she obeyed.

The Fairy G.o.dmother scooped out the inside of the pumpkin, leaving only the rind. She carried it to the kitchen door. Then she touched the rind with her wand. Instantly there stood a great coach covered with gold.

"Where shall we find horses for such a great coach?" cried Cinderella.

"Bring the mouse trap from the cellar," the Fairy G.o.dmother replied.

"Here are six live mice in the trap," said Cinderella breathlessly.

The Fairy G.o.dmother lifted the door of the trap. She touched each of the mice with her wand as it ran out. The mice became six beautiful white horses standing before the coach.

"Where shall we find a coachman to drive the horses?" asked Cinderella.

"Bring the rat trap to me," replied the Fairy G.o.dmother.

Cinderella brought the rat trap, and in it was a large gray rat.

At a touch of the wand, the rat was changed into a coachman. He sat in state upon the coach.

"Now run into the garden again. You will find two lizards behind the watering pot. Bring them to me."

The Fairy G.o.dmother touched the lizards with her wand. In their place stood two footmen in splendid livery.

They stepped to the back of the coach as if they had been footmen all their lives.

Then the kind Fairy G.o.dmother touched Cinderella's clothes with her wand. The rags became a beautiful costume of satin, covered with pearls.

In place of her old shoes were gla.s.s slippers that had been made by the fairies. They were the very prettiest little slippers in the world.

Never had Cinderella been so happy!

"Now you may go to the ball, but do not fail to leave before midnight,"

said the Fairy G.o.dmother.

"If you stay until the clock strikes twelve," added the Fairy G.o.dmother, "your coach will again become a pumpkin; your horses will be mice; your coachman will be a rat; your footmen will be lizards, and your beautiful dress will become rags."

Cinderella stepped into the coach. A few minutes later, the white horses dashed into the royal courtyard.

The door of the coach was flung open, and Cinderella stepped out.

As Cinderella entered the ball room, the prince hastened to meet her.

"Never," said he to himself, "have I seen anyone so lovely!"