Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister

by Gregory Maguire

  After that, she said to her, Go into the garden, and you will find six Lizards behind the watering-pot, bring them to me; she had no sooner done so, but her godmother turned them into six footmen, who skipped up immediately behind the coach, with their liveries all bedaubed with gold and silver, and clung so close behind one another, as they had done nothing else all their lives. The Fairy then said to Cinderilla, Well, you see here an equipage fit to go to the Ball with; are you not pleased with it? O yes, said she, but must I go thither as I am, with these ugly nasty clothes? Her godmother only just touched her with her wand, and at the same instant her clothes were turned into cloth of gold and silver, all beset with jewels: after this, she gave her a pair of Glass Slippers, the finest in the world. Being thus dress'd out she got into her coach; but her godmother, above all things, commanded her not to stay beyond twelve a clock at night; telling her at the same time, that if she stay'd at the ball one moment longer, her coach would be a pompion again, her horses mice, her footmen lizards, and her clothes resume their old form.

  She promised her godmother she would not fail of leaving the ball before midnight, and then departed not a little joyful at her good fortune.

  The King's son, who was informed that a great Princess, whom they did not know, was come, ran out to received her; he gave her his hand as she alighted out of the coach, and led her into the hall where the company was: there was a great silence; they left off dancing, and the violins ceased to play, so attentive was every body to contemplate the extraordinary beauties of this unknown person: there was heard nothing but a confused noise of ha! how handsome she is, ha! how handsome she is. The King himself, as old as he was, could not help looking at her, and telling the Queen in a low voice, that it was a long time since that he had seen so beautiful and lovely a creature. All the ladies were busied in considering her clothes and head-dress, that they might have some made the next day after the same pattern, supposing they might get such fine materials, and as able hands to make them.

  The King's son shewed her to the most honourable place, and afterwards took her out to dance with him: she danced with so much gracefulness, that they more and more admired her. A fine collation was served up, of which the young Prince eat nothing, so much was he taken up in looking upon her. She went and set herself down by her sisters, and shewed them a thousand civilities: she gave them some of the oranges and lemons that the Prince had presented her with; which very much surprised them; for they did not know her. While the company was thus employed, Cinderilla heard the clock go eleven and three quarters; upon which she immediately made a courtesy to the company, and went away as fast as she could.

  As soon as she came home, she went to find out her godmother, and after having thanked her, she told her, she could not but heartily wish to go the next day to the ball, because the King's son had desired her. As she was busie in telling her godmother every thing that had passed at the ball, her two sisters knock'd at the door, Cinderilla went and opened it. You have stay'd a long while, said she, gaping, rubbing her eyes, and stretching herself as if she had been just awaked out of her sleep; she had however no manner of inclination to sleep since they went from home. If thou hadst been at the ball, said one of her sisters, thou would'st not have been tired with it: there came thither the most beautiful Princess, the most beautiful that ever was seen; she shewed us a thousand civilities, and gave us oranges and lemons. Cinderilla seem'd indifferent; she asked them the name of that Princess; but they told her they did not know it, and that the King's son was very uneasy on her account, and would give all the world to know where she was. At this Cinderilla smiled, and said, she must then be very handsome indeed; Lord how happy have you been, could not I see her? Ah! good Madam Charlotte, lend me your yellow suit of clothes that you wear every day. Undoubtedly, said Madam Charlotte, lend my clothes to such a Cinderbreech as you are, who is fool then? Cinderilla was very glad of the refusal, for she would have been sadly put to it, if her sister had leant her her clothes.

  The next day the two sisters were at the ball, and so was Cinderilla, but dressed more richly than she was at first. The King's son was always by her, and saying abundance of tender things to her; the young lady was no ways tired, and forgot what her godmother had recommended to her, so that she heard the clock begin to strike twelve, when she thought it was only eleven, she then rose up and fled as nimble as a deer: the Prince followed her, but could not catch hold of her; she dropt one of her Glass Slippers, which the Prince took up very carefully; Cinderilla came home quite out of breath, without coach or footmen, and in her old ugly clothes; she had nothing left her of all her finery, but one of the little Slippers, fellow to that she drop'd. The guards at the palace- gate were asked if they had not seen a Princess go out, who said, they had seen no body go out, but a young woman very badly dress'd, and who had more the air of a poor country wench than a lady.

  When the two sisters returned from the ball, Cinderilla asked them, if they had been well diverted, and if the fine lady had been there; they told her, Yes, but that she flew away as soon as it had struck twelve a clock, and with so much haste, that she drop'd one of her little Glass Slippers, the prettiest in the world, and which the King's son had taken up, that he did nothing but look at her all the time of the ball, and that certainly he was very much in love with the beautiful person who owned the little Slipper. What they said was very true; for a few days after, the King's son caused it to be proclaimed by sound of trumpet, that he would marry her whose foot this Slipper would just fit. They began to try it on upon the princesses, then the dutchesses, and all the court, but in vain; it was brought to the two sisters, who did all they possibly could to thrust their foot into the Slipper, but they could not effect it.

  Cinderilla, who saw all this, and knew the Slipper, said to them laughing, Let me see if it will not fit me; her sisters burst out a laughing, and began to banter her. The gentleman who was sent to try the Slipper, looked earnestly at Cinderilla, and finding her very handsome, said, it was but just that she should try, and that he had orders to let every body do so. He made Cinderilla sit down, and putting the Slipper to her foot, he found it went in very easily, and fitted her, and if it had been made of wax. The astonishment her two sisters were in, were very great; but much greater, when Cinderilla pulled out of her pocket the other Slipper, and put it upon her foot. Upon this her godmother came in, who having touch'd with her wand Cinderilla's clothes, made them more rich and magnificent than ever they were before.

  And now, her two sisters found her to be that fine beautiful lady that they had seen at the ball. They threw themselves at her feet, to beg pardon for all the ill treatment they had made her undergo. Cinderilla took them up, and told them, as she embraced them, that she forgave them with all her heart, and desired them always to love her.

  She was conducted to the young Prince dress'd as she was: he thought her more beautiful than ever, and a few days after married her. Cinderilla, who was as good as handsome, gave her two sisters lodgings in the palace, and married them the same day to two great lords of the court.

  THE MORAL.

  Beauty's to the sex a treasure,

  We still admire it without measure,

  And never yet was any known

  By still admiring weary grown.

  But that thing, which we call good grace,

  Exceeds by far a handsome face;

  Its charms by far surpass the other,

  And this was what her good godmother

  Bestow'd on CINDERILLA fair,

  Whom she instructed with such care,

  And gave her such a graceful mien,

  That she became thereby a Queen.

  For thus (may ever truth prevail)

  We draw our moral from this Tale.

  This quality, fair ladies, know

  Prevails much more, you'll find it so,

  T'engage and captivate a heart,

  Than a fine head dress'd up with art;

  'Tis the true gift of heaven and fate
,

  Without it none in any state

  Effectual any thing can do;

  But with it all things well and true.

  ANOTHER.

  A Great advantage 'tis, no doubt, to man,

  To have wit, courage, birth, good sense and brain,

  And other such like Qualities, which we

  Receiv'd from heaven's kind hand and destiny.

  But none of these rich graces from above,

  In your advancement in the world will prove

  Of any use, if Godsires make delay,

  Or Godmothers your merit to display.