How pretty and strong the tree looked in the moonlight. Cinderella thought, “Surely, my dear tree will help me.” Then she said aloud, “Rustle and shake yourself, dear tree. Throw gold and silver down on me.” And what do you think happened? Why, the tree shook its branches and down dropped such lovely things,—a beautiful, snow-white dress, all trimmed with gold and silver; and the prettiest little slippers in the world.
Oh, how glad Cinderella was! You may be sure she dressed herself quickly and went to the ball. And when she got there she was the prettiest and sweetest looking girl in all that great company. The prince danced with her. The king and queen spoke kindly to her. They also said to one another, “She is a lovely maiden, so sweet and gentle.”
Her mother and sisters did not know her at all. They never thought that the happy looking girl in the beautiful ball dress was their Cinderella.
When it grew late, Cinderella stole quietly out of the ball-room and ran home. She took off her pretty things and took them back to the tree. Then she lay down in her bed in the ashes and was soon fast asleep.
When her sisters and their mother came home they woke her. “O Cinderella!” they said, “we had a delightful time. And there was the most beautiful girl there! She wore a dress all trimmed with gold and silver. And the prince danced with her. We wondered who she could be.” Cinderella laughed softly to herself, but she said never a word.
The second night of the ball came. Cinderella’s sisters had kept her running back and forth waiting upon them; but at last they were dressed.
As soon as they and their mother had gone, Cinderella ran out to her kind friend, the tree. Again she called out, “Rustle and shake yourself, dear tree. Throw gold and silver down on me.” And down fell a lovely ball dress, prettier even than the one she wore the night before. When Cinderella reached the ball-room, the prince was waiting for her. The king and queen welcomed her; and everyone seemed glad to see this sweet-faced, happy maiden.
How happy Cinderella was! She forgot all about her ragged dress, her clumsy wooden shoes, and her bed in the ashes. She was the happiest of all in that great ball-room.
When it grew late, she again stole quietly away and ran home. She took off her pretty things and laid them down under the tree, and they were quickly gone. She was asleep when the sisters came home; but they woke her to help them undress and to listen to all their talk about the ball.