(原版)澳大利亞語(yǔ)文第三冊(cè) LESSON 19

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LESSON 19 CINDER-ELLA

CINDER-ELLA

II

1. Ella looked at her godmother with great surprise. "Why, I have nothing to wear," said she, "and if I had I could not go, for it is raining hard, and I should get wet through before I reached the palace."

2. The godmother laughed, and her laugh sounded like the tinkle of a silver bell. "Oh, I can manage all that," said she, "but you must do just as you are told. You see, I am a fairy, and can do what mortals [1] cannot." She then touched Ella's old dress and it changed at once into a dress of the finest white silk.

3. The fairy next touched a cobweb, which changed into the daintiest [2] lace scarf that was ever seen. Then from her pocket she drew two tiny glass slippers, which she put upon Ella's feet.

4. Ella stood dressed for the party, and looked far prettier than either of her sisters, although each had spent all the afternoon in trying to make herself beautiful. The fairy now searched for something to turn into a carriage.

5. There was a large pumpkin standing in the kitchen. A wave of the fairy wand changed this into a coach, shining with gold and silver.

6. Once again she waved the wand, and forth from holes in the floor crept two rats and two mice. The rats soon became two prancing white ponies, while the mice changed into a smart groom and a footman.

ELLA GOT INTO THE CARRIAGE.

7. "All is now ready, child," said the fairy, "but there is one thing you must promise, and that is not to stay after the clock strikes twelve. When the clock strikes, my power is gone, and all your things will change back into what they were before."

8. Ella thanked her godmother, got into the carriage, and drove off. When she reached the palace the party had just begun. She was by far the prettiest maiden there, and the prince would talk and dance with no one else.

9. Everyone was asking who the charming girl could be. No one could answer, for Ella's sisters did not know her in her new dress. The prince took no notice of them at all, and they were very angry.

10. The hours passed too quickly for poor Ella, and it was but half a minute to twelve when she thought of her promise to the fairy. She made an excuse to the prince, and ran from the room. Thinking she was ill, he went to follow her. She was too quick for him, but, in running down the steps of the palace, she dropped one of her slippers.

11. She had just reached the palace gates when the clock chimed twelve. The prince's servants, who had been sent to find her, almost fell over a large pumpkin in the roadway, and saw two rats and two mice run from beneath it.

12. They saw, too, a poor girl limping along the wet road, but could see no sign of the handsome maiden, who had won all hearts at the party.

13. When they told the prince, he was very sad. He did not care to dance any more, and the party soon broke up. When the stepmother and her daughters reached home they found Ella in the kitchen, and the soup hot. As they ate, they talked with wonder and envy about the lovely maiden who had danced with the prince.

14. About a week after, a herald [3] went through the streets of the city. He carried a little glass slipper on a cushion. He made known throughout the city that the prince was anxious to marry the maiden whom the slipper would fit.

15. Nearly every girl in the city tried to fit on the slipper, but without success. The herald brought it for Ella's sisters to try on, but their feet were much too big. Then Ella asked if she might try. The stepsisters would have driven her away, but the herald said that she must try too, or the king would be angry.

16. Of course Ella's foot fitted the slipper at once, and as she pulled it on, the fairy godmother came in. One wave of her wand, and Cinder-Ella stood before them as the beautiful maiden who had danced at the party.

17. The prince came in haste to claim her as his bride, and the king, his father, was pleased to find in his son's choice the daughter of the brave soldier who had saved his life.

18. Ella's stepsisters would often boast of the goodness of their sister, the princess, for she was too kind and gentle to punish them for their ill-treatment.

19. When the old king died, the people welcomed [4] the prince and his wife as their king and queen, and together they ruled over their subjects wisely and well.

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[1] mortals: Human beings.

[2] daintiest: Finest.

[3] herald: A messenger who proclaims something.

[4] welcomed: Received with great joy.