at home, so it did not signify, and next morning she went to her weary work again just as before. 10. A few days after, the whole city was attracted by the sight of the prince, preceded by a herald, who went about with a little glass slipper in his hand, proclaiming that the king's son ordered this to be fitted on the foot of every lady in the kingdom, and that he wished to marry the lady whom it fitted best, or to whom it and the fellow-slipper belonged. Princesses, duchesses, countesses, and gentlewomen, all tried it on ; but, being a fairy slipper, it fitted nobody. Besides, nobody could produce its fellow-slipper, which lay all the time safely in the pocket of Cinderella's old linsey gown. 11. At last the herald and the prince came to the house of the two sisters. They well knew that neither of themselves was the beautiful lady. Still they made every attempt to get their clumsy feet into the glass slipper; but in vain. 12. "Let me try it on," said Cinderella, from the chimney-corner. 66 What, you?" cried the others, bursting into shouts of laughter; but Cinderella only smiled, and held out her hand. But her sisters could not prevent her, since the command was that every young maiden in the city. should try on the slipper, in order that no chance might be left untried. For the prince was nearly breaking his heart; and his father and mother were afraid that, though a prince, he would actually die for love of the beautiful unknown lady. 13. So the herald bade Cinderella sit down on a threelegged stool in the kitchen, and himself put the slipper on her pretty little foot, which it fitted exactly. She then drew from her pocket the fellow-slipper, which she also put on, and stood up-for with the touch of the magic shoes all her dress was changed likewise— no longer the poor cinder-wench, but the beautiful lady whom the king's son loved. 14. Her sisters recognized her at once. Filled with astonishment and alarm, they threw themselves at her feet, begging her pardon for all their former unkindness. She raised and embraced them, telling them she forgave them with all her heart, and only hoped they would love her always. Then she departed with the herald to the king's palace, and told her whole story to his majesty and the royal family, who were not in the least surprised, for everybody believed in fairies, and everybody longed to have a fairy godmother. 15. As for the young prince, he thought her more lovely and lovable than ever, and insisted upon marrying her immediately. Cinderella never went home again; but she sent for her two sisters to the place, and with the consent of all parties married them shortly after to two rich gentlemen of the court. I feel her gentle hand restrain But wiser now, a man gray grown, Gray grown, but in our Father's sight I bow myself beneath His hand: I fondly dream it needs must be, I wait, and trust the end will prove 1. THE snow had begun in the gloaming, Had been heaping field and highway 2. Every pine and fir and hemlock Wore ermine too dear for an earl, 3. From sheds new-roofed with Carrara 1 The stiff rails were softened to swan's-down, 4. I stood and watched by the window 1 Carrara, a place in Italy from which beautiful white marble is brought. Here used to denote white snow. And the sudden flurries of snow-birds, 5. I thought of a mound in sweet Auburn 1 6 Up spoke our own little Mabel, Saying, "Father, who makes it snow?" Again I looked at the snow-fall, And thought of the leaden sky 8. I remembered the gradual patience That fell from that cloud, like snow, 9. And again to the child I whispered, "The snow that husheth all, Darling, the merciful Father Alone can make it fall!" 10. Then, with eyes that saw not, I kissed her; And she, kissing back, could not know That my kiss was given to her sister, Folded close under deepening snow. 1 Auburn (Mount), a cemetery in Cambridge, Mass. |