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and cruel degradation. She continued sobbing in tho corner of the chimney until a noise in the kitchen roused her, and sho looked up to see what had occasioned it. Hor surprise was great, indeed, to see a littlo curious-looking old woman, very antiquely dressed; in her right hand she carried a wand, and in the other sho held a crutch to support herself.
Cinderella thought that her eyes had deceived her, as she had not seen this droll personago before; but tho old woman, with a good-natured smile in her countenance, approached noarer, and thus accosted her:-
"My dear Cinderella, I am your godmother, and, knowing the desire you have to go to this fine ball, I am come for tho purpose of gratifying yeur wishes; therefore, dry up yeur tears, and, as you aro a good girl, I will furnish yeu with an equipage suitablo to your merit."
Cinderella then remembered that she had heard her father and mother often talk of her godmother, and that sho was one of those good Fairios who interest themselves in the welfaro of all the children to whom they stand sponsors, and this recollection rovived her spirits.
Tho Fairy took Cinderella by tho hand, and having led her out to a retired spot, said, "Now, my dear, you must go into the garden and bring mo a pumpkin." Cinderella almost flew to executo her commands, and returned with one of tho finest she could meet with. Her godmother took tho pumpkin, and scoeped out the insido of it, leaving nothing but the rind; she then struck it with her wand, and it instantly becamo one of the most elegant gilt coaches that over was seen.
She next desired Cinderella to go to the pantry for ⟨the⟩ mouse-trap. She did so, and found six little mice alive in the trap, which sho brought to tho Fairy, who ⟨requested⟩ her to lift up tho door very gently, so that ⟨only⟩ one of them might go out at a time.
Cinderella raised tho trap-door, and, as tho mice ⟨came⟩ out one by one, a touch of tho Fairy's wand transformed them into beautiful carriago horses.
"Now, my dear girl," said tho Fairy, "here you havo a coach and horses much handsomer than your ⟨sisters⟩, to say the least ef them; but, as we have neither
