One day the sisters came dancing into the house. "We have been invited to the king's ball," they cried.
At length the day of the great ball came, and the two sisters rode away in their fine silk dresses.
Poor Cinderella, who had to stay behind, looked at her old ragged clothes, and burst into tears.
"Alas," she cried, "why should I always have to stay in the kitchen while my sisters dress in silks and satins?"
Hardly had she spoken when there stood before her a dear little old lady with a golden wand in her hand.
"My child," she cried, "I am your fairy godmother, and you shall go to the ball, too.
First go into the garden, Cinderella, and bring to me the largest pumpkin you can find."
When Cinderella had done this, the fairy waved her golden wand over the yellow pumpkin.
In a flash, it was not a pumpkin at all, but a beautiful yellow coach.
"Now bring me four white mice, two large ones and two small ones."