Ella was a beautiful girl who lived in a big house with her father, Stepmother, and her two stepsisters. Her stepmother and stepsisters were horrible people. They acted very sweetly in front of her father. But when he was not around, they were very cruel towards Ella.

One day, her father had an accident and died. From then on, the stepmother and stepsisters made Ella work like a slave.

“You do not need these beautiful clothes to wear,” said the stepmother.

“Yours is the most beautiful room in this house. I want it,” said one stepsister.

They took all her clothes and gave her tattered ones. They made her sleep near the fireplace, which was dirty and filled with cinders. She was always covered with dirt from cleaning the furnace.

“Look at her! She looks so dirty. We should call her ‘Cinderella’ from now on,” they mocked her.

Despite being made to work from dawn to dusk, Cinderella never complained. She was charming and kind. One day, there came an invitation from the palace.

The stepmother said, “The King is holding a ball for the Prince today. They have invited every young unmarried girl so that the Prince can choose a bride. I hope one of you gets chosen.”

The stepsisters were very excited. Both of them wanted to marry the Prince and live in the palace.

The stepmother said, “Cinderella, I have made two stunning gowns for your stepsisters. Lay it out and ensure it is without any creases. Help them get dressed.”

Cinderella immediately asked, “May I go to the ball as well?”

The stepmother said, “Of course you can.”

The stepsisters were irritated. But before they could say anything, the stepmother continued, “But you need to finish all your work before we go.”

Cinderella was pleased. “I will finish all my work very soon, stepmother.”

Cinderella quickly finished all her work and came to the stepmother. “I have finished all my work. Can I come now?” she asked.

The stepmother was never planning to take Cinderella with her. She said, “I wish I could. But you look so dirty. Your clothes are tattered. They will never allow you to enter the palace. Anyway, we are getting late now. Goodbye.”

Cinderella was very sad. She ran outside to the garden and started crying. Suddenly, she heard a voice. “What is the matter, my dear child?”

Cinderella was shocked to see a lady floating in the air. She was plump, friendly, and cheerful. She had a wand in her hand and wings on her back. “Who are you?” she asked.

“I am you, fairy Godmother, of course,” said the floating lady. “I am here to fulfill any wish of yours.”

“I want to go to the ball,” said Cinderella. “But, how can I? I don’t have a coach or a dress.”

“Leave that to me,” replied the fairy Godmother. She waved her magic wand and chanted, “Abracadabra.”

Sparks flew out of the Godmother’s wand and the next instant she had transformed Cinderella’s tattered clothes into the most beautiful silver colored dress. It was shimmering like the stars in the sky. Her tattered slippers turned into a magical looking glass slippers.

A pumpkin became a carriage and four mice became four horses to pull the carriage.

Before leaving, the fairy Godmother told Cinderella, “Remember! The Magic will only last until midnight. So, leave the ball before the clock strikes 12 o clock.”

“I will. Thank you so much,” said Cinderella and then started to the palace.

Cinderella was the most beautiful girl in the ball. Enchanted, the prince danced the whole night with it. But, as soon as it was 12 o clock, Cinderella rushed out without saying anything. She left one glass slipper in her rush to go away.

The prince found the slipper. He had fallen in love with the beautiful girl in the ball and wanted to marry her. But he did not know her name or address. So, he wanted to find out who the girl was with the help of the glass slipper.

Back at home, Cinderella was so happy she could meet the prince. Her stepmother and stepsisters were excited but disappointed that the prince did not dance with them. They were talking about the mysterious girl who was at the ball and wondered who she was, for they were not able to discover Cinderella in her fabulous attire.

Then came an announcement from the King. “The prince has decided to marry the girl that he danced with. To find the girl, every girl in the Kingdom will be asked to wear the magical glass shoes to see if it fits them.”

The King’s men went from house to house, but the glass shoes did not fit anyone. They finally came to Cinderella’s house. Both her stepsisters tried it. But it did not suit either of them.

Just then, the men noticed Cinderella and asked her to try the shoes. When she did, it was a perfect fit. They had finally found the girl the prince loved.

The prince married Cinderella, and they lived happily ever after. The stepmother and her daughters were sent away from the Kingdom and nobody heard about them ever again.