灰姑娘(Cinderella)

灰姑娘Cinderella

Chapter 1

Once upon a time（很久以前）there was a beautiful and kind hearted（好心的）girl named Cinderella.

Cinderella’s mother died when she was very young, so her father married a second time. He wanted his daughter to grow up（成长） with a mother’s love（母爱）.

But Cinderella’s father chose his second wife poorly. She was a cruel（残酷的） and nasty （险恶的）woman with two very spoiled（被宠坏的）and mean（卑鄙的）daughters named Sula and Rica. Cinderella’s step-mother and two step-sisters treated（对待）her very badly.

She became their servant（佣人）, tending（照料）to their every need.Cinderella never had time to have any fun. Her father could not see what was going on, because he was always away on business（出差）. Not wanting to make her father worried, Cinderella never complained（抱怨） about her situation（处境）.

Chapter 2

One day, a fair（仙女）disguised（伪装）as an ugly, old woman came to the house where Cinderella, her step-mother and two step-sisters lived.

Please, may I beg you for a piece of bread? I am so hungry.

If we gave food to every beggar we met, we would have nothing left for ourselves.

Yes! And we would starve to death（饿死）. Now go away!

The old woman turned and walked away, but Cinderella felt sorry for（同情）her and decided to give her what little food she had.

Just where do you think you are going?

Uh, I am just going outside to get some fresh air for a minute.

You have only half a minute（片刻）. You have all these dishes（餐具） to wash!

Cinderella knew her evil（邪恶的）step-sisters must not see her giving food to the poor old lady, or she would be punished（惩罚）. She had to（不得不） hurry. She quickly ran to the gate before the woman left.

Please, kind lady, don’t go away hungry. Take my dinner.

Is that all you have to eat, my child?

Yes, but I am not hungry. I am young, and you are old. You need it more than I.

Thank you, my child. What is your name?

My name is Cinderella.

Well, Cinderella. You are a very kind girl and will surely be rewarded（回报） for this.

Just then（就在这时）, Cinderella heard her two evil step-sisters calling for（要求） her.

Cinderella!! Come back and do these dishes at once（马上）!

And wash the floors, and polish（擦亮） our shoes. We should punish you for being so lazy!

Cinderella bid the poor old woman farewell（告别） and went back to the house to do her many chores（杂务）.

Chapter 3

Not far away（不远处）, the crown prince（皇太子） and his servants（仆人） were just returning to the castle after a long journey（旅行）. They had been to many lands searching for a bride（新娘） for the prince. When the king and queen saw the prince, they said.

Welcome home, my dear son. Did you find a girl to marry?

No. Mother and father. We searched in many lands for a bride, but I could not find one to love.

Oh dear. You simply must find a bride soon!

Yes, I know, father, but I just can’t seem to（看起来） find the right girl.

You look tired from such a long journey, son. Why don’t you go and lie down（躺下）.

I am really tired. I think I will take a nap（小睡片刻）.

So the prince went to his room to rest. Not long after（不久） he fell asleep（睡着了）, he began having the most wonderful dream. In his dream, he was dancing with a beautiful girl and was happier than he had ever been before. Suddenly, he woke up and realized that he had found his bride-to-be（准新娘）.

But he wondered（想知道）who she was and how he would ever（究竟）find her. He ran downstairs to tell his mother and father the good news.