Cinderella: or, the Little Glass
SlipperOnce there was a gentleman who married, for his second wife, the
proudest and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had,
by a former husband, two daughters of her own humor, who were,
indeed, exactly like her in all things. He had likewise, by
another wife, a young daughter, but of unparalleled goodness and
sweetness of temper, which she took from her mother, who was the
best creature in the world.
No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over but the
mother-in-law began to show herself in her true colors. She
could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl, and the less
because they made her own daughters appear the more odious.
She employed her in the meanest work of the house: she
scoured the dishes, tables, etc.,
