Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-02-03
Vol. XXI. Whole No. 1895. No. 5
The True Cinderella

There are few thoughts that are new ia
the world, as Solomon discovered thous-
| ands of years ago, and said that "there is
nothing new under the SUM-" Many of the
best stories In our story books are only the
reproduction of some very ancient bit Of
history or myth; aud some of our readers
may be surprised to learn that the finest of
all English nursery tales, cinderella"
was once the delight Of the children Of
Egypt In the palmy days of Phsraohs.
We will tell you how 1t all happened;
and we think that you will say that the old
story Is quite as clever IS the new, and
derella history there are no fairy godmoth-
ers, no mice and no pumpkins. A wise old
eagle takes all the management Of the slip
per, and We can in fancy see him carrying
1t over the silver sands and dark pyramids
of Egypt, without greatly taxing our be-
lief.
Rodolphe-a pretty name, to begin with
was the fairest lady in all Egypt. She
had dainty foot, and wore jewelIed slip
pers, and all the people gazed upon her
with delight when she walked, as though
she were goddess or fairy.
She went out to bathe one day among
the white lilies Of the Nile. While she
and her maids were sporting In tha water.
great shadow passed over them, and
they saw an eagle alight on the bank where
their clothes had been left. Presently it
arose with something in its talons, and
wheeling through the golden hazes be-
came speck in the clear sky.
When Rodolphe came up the bank, she
found that one of her jewelled slippers had
been carried away, and she said to her
maids, The eagle has taken It."
And the maids said, =
ss'EhnD II will hr;p
eagle is bird OF good omen.'
SO Rodolphe hobbled home with light
heart, one of her slipperless feet crushing
the lotus blossoms. Her maids laughed
at her, but she said,-
at is good luck, for an eagle has taken
it,"
Far away up the Nile lay Memphis,
with her bright winged temples and
palaces; city seventeen miles In circuit,
the seat of the Pharaohs for nearly
thousand years, and at this time the capital
OF Egypt Here were the splendid tenn
Piles of Iris, Scraps, and Of the Sun, and
the throne was now filled with Pharaoh
who had overthrown eleven other Egyp-
tian kings.
His name was Psammeticus. His son,
the Pharaoh Nechor, slew Josiah King of
Judah, b. Z. 6l0. (See Kings 23.)
He was sitting in cool portico of his
palace toward evening. The crimson sun
was blazing low on the hot sands of the
desert, but cool winds tripped with light
feet along the dmplins waves of the Nile,
and famed the king as they passed. He
arose, walked into an open court, when
great shadow passed above him.
He looked up, and behind with delight
and awe an eagle descending and wheeling
above his head, with something sparkling
his talnps Ia la Oh ~ b;
messenger from the sun.
He lifted his arms for ioy Just then
the eagle began to ascend, dropping the
glltterlng treasure from his talous into his
bosom.
Ii was Rodolphes jewelled slipper
The next day PsammetIcus issued proc
lamation which caused all Memphis to
wosder. Whoever would lind the mate to
the jewelled slipper, which the eagle had
brought to the palace, should be loaded
with riches, aud taken into the service OF
the king.
Rodolphe heard the great news She
believed that the eagle was indeed mes
senger of the gods to point out to her her
destiny. 50 she came to magnificent
Memphis, 10 answer the proclamation OF
| the king.
sWith one slipperess foot she ascended
the grand porticoes OF the Pharaohs, and
stood before the king with downcast leyes,
lifting her dress just above her dainty
feet,-a perfect vision of beauty OF
course Psammeticus Immediately fell in
love with her, and married her, and made
her queen OF all Egypt.
There was great joy in all the dazzling
temples of Memphis when the marriage
was consummated-there were dancing
and music and strewing of flowers. All
Egypt was happy Hezekiah Butter
worth, in Wide Awake