Grimms' Fairy Tales - World Children's Literature Classics Library for Primary School Students

Author: (German) Brothers Grimm / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: Cinderella once lived happily with her beautiful little daughter and parents. But one day, her mother fell seriously ill. As her mother lay on her deathbed, she called her daughter to her bedside and said, "Poor child, you must always believe in God and remain loyal, kind, and compassionate. A kind and merciful God will surely bless you. Remember, Mom will always be watching over you and protecting you from heaven." With that, she closed her eyes and left this world forever. The little girl was heartbroken and cried at her mother's grave every day. How she wished her mother could come back and be with her again!
Winter arrived, and heavy snow covered the entire land, as if a white blanket had been laid over it. When spring came, the little girl had a stepmother. The stepmother brought two daughters with her. These two daughters were just like their mother—beautiful on the outside but cruel at heart. From then on, the little girl had nothing but hardship. The stepmother mistreated her, and her stepsisters tormented her. They took away her pretty clothes and only let her wear a gray, old dress and ragged wooden shoes. They even forced her into the kitchen to do all the housework and sometimes deliberately teased and cursed her.
The little girl cried bitterly at her mother's grave, but what was the use? She had to get up before dawn every day to work: fetching water, chopping wood, cooking, and washing clothes. Her stepsisters also devised various ways to torment her—they often poured peas into the ashes and made her pick them out one by one. Poor little girl, after a tiring day, she could only sleep by the stove among the ashes at night, covered in dust. That's why the whole family called her Cinderella.
When it was time for the New Year, Dad prepared to go to the market to buy New Year's goods. He asked his stepdaughters what gifts they wanted. The older sister said, "I want pretty clothes." The younger sister said, "I want a pearl necklace." Dad then asked Cinderella, "What gift do you want?" Cinderella said, "Dear Dad, please pick up a branch that touches your hat on the way home and bring it to me! Remember, don’t forget." P36-39