Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-03-08
THE TRUE CINDERELLA.

mduy VI Luo ueSt SLoIloo IL Jul oIoA 'ooCno
are the reproduction of some very ancient bit
of history or myth; and the finest of all Eng
lish nursery tales, "Cinderella," was once the
delight of the children of Egypt in the palmy
days of the Pharaohs.
We will tell you how it happened; and we
think that you will say that the old story is
quite as clever as the new, and much more
probable; for in the true Cinderella history
there are no fairy god.mothers, no mice and
no pumpkins. A wise old eagle takes the
management of the slipper, and we, in fancy,
can see him carrying it over the silver sands
and dark pyramids Of Egypt without greatly
taxing our belief
Rodolphe-a pretty name to begin with
was the fairest lady in all Egypt. She had
dainty foot, and wore jeweled slippers, and
all the good people gazed upon her with de-
light when she walked, as though she were a
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 the 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 some
thing in its talons, and wheeling through the
golden hazes, became a speck in the clear
blue sky.
When Rodolphe came up the bank, she
found that one of her jeweled slippers had
been carried away, and she said to her maids
"The eagle has taken it."
And the maids said-"Then it will bring
you good luck. The eagle is bird of good
omen."
So Rodolphe hobbled home with light
heart, one of her slipperless feet crushing the
lotus blossoms Her maids laug ghed at her,
but she said-"It 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, at this
time the capital Of Egypt. Here were the
splendid temples of Isis, Scraps, and of the
sun, and the throne was now filled with
Pharaoh who had overthroWn eleven other
Egyptian kinga- .------
His name was Psammeticus. His son, the
Pharaoh Necho, slew Josiah, king of Judah,
B. G. 61O. (See2 Kings 23:)
He was sitting in cool portico Of his pal
ace toward evening. The crimson sun was
blazing low on the hot sands of the desert,
but cool winds tripped with light feet along
the dimpling waves of the Nile, and famed
the king as they passed. He arose, walked
into an open court, and great shadow passed
above him.
He looked up, and beheld with delight and
awe an eagle descending, and wheeling above
his head, with something sparkling in his
talons. He looked upon the, bird as mes
senger from the sun.
He lifted his arms for joy. Just then the
eagle began to ascend, dropping the glittering
treasure from its talons into his bosom.
1t was Rodolphe's jewelled slipper.
The next day Psammeticus issued procla-
nation which caused all Memphis to wonder.
Whoever would find the mate to the jewelled
slipper, which the eagle had brought to the
palace, should be loaded with riches, and
taken into the service of the king.
Rodol phe heard the great news She be-
lieved that the eagle was indeed messenger
of the gods to point out to her her destiny.
So she came to magnificent Memphis, to an
swer the proclamation of the king.
With one slpperless foot she ascended the
grand porticoes of the Pharaohs, and stood
before the king with downcast eyes, lifting her
dress just above her dainty feet-a perfect
vision of beauty. Of course Psammeticus
Immediately fell in love with her, and mar.
ried 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 was dancing and music,
and strewing of flowers. All Egypt was hap
py.-Hezekiah Butter,Dorh in Vide Awake.