West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-09-19
CINDERELLA.

HNHofSi Ihlc tnOugnt oil her lot,
which appeared at present TO be TO do
the housework for her step-mother and
her two step-sisters, her mind naturally
reverted to her favorite fairy tale, the one
she liked 10 read oftcnest in those child
ish days not so far away, for she was not
yet seventeen, before her father filled her
dear dead mothers place with the over
whclming presence of the Widow Hmm
pheres, whose twin girls had quite
thrown btiie into the shade from the time
that they entered the house.
II should have been christened Cinder
ella, she used to say; ''only / certainly
have no fairy god-mother, and no one
VIII ever change the rats, that frighten
me so when go down the kitchen stairs
IN the dark, into horses, or one of the
big pumpkins | am forever stewing for
pies INTO carriage; and certainly, GER
'ainly, certainly the young prince will
never fall in love with me or one of nv
shoes"
And then Effie would give the stout.
serViceable boots, which her step mother
always bought size too large for her,
contemptuous look, which would have
wlthered their soles, had they been any
thing more sensitive than leather and
prunela.
Efie never said ali this to any one but
herseit, certainly not TO her step-mothcr,
VINO, now that she was widow once
more--for Eific's father had not lived
long after his second marriage-was
completely mistress OF the house. Every
thing had been left to her and she had
her own ideas of Justice. She neither
abused nor illused Efiie, but she had soft
way OF coercing her that was Just as bad.
Melissa and Amanda, her Two girls. were
older than Efiie, and of this fact the
mother made good use. Eilic was Niust
a child, and she could wear calico dresses
and serviceable boots, while Melissa
and Amanda must have trained dresses
and dainty coverings for their feet.
Ellie was so young that she could ..run
oil crrands, yet Eiie, being mere girl.
needed sleep at nights and must retire
early; and rs the young ladies sat up
later she must rise earlier than they and
help get breakfast A woman was kept
to wash, and cook, and scrub, and Eifie
only had mice things, that child should
learn to do, to attend to, said stcr-
mamma; but the little hands were alwavs
busy and the little feet tired. and. like
Cinderella, when there was nothing else
TO do she had her sisters handsome
dresses to work upon.
IL was provoking, with nothing for
herself bat her every day calicoes and
step-mamma's old brown silk, made short
and scanty, for Sundays church going.
1t was only lately since it had seemed so
hard, though--only since Leslie Good
wood had come home from college. and
she had seen, as plainly as young eyes
'lo see these things, that he admired her.
even in the brown silk and Melissa's
las. years hat, which was, in step nam
mas estimation "quite good enough for
a. mere childp
: Since then she had called herself Gin
derella oftener than before, and when at
last the GoOdwOods gave an evening
party, and not only Mrs. Merwin and her
daughters were invited, but also Miss
Effie Meryin, in little note addressed 20
herself, She fairly rebelIed as her step
mother expressed IL to be her opinion
that she might take Amanda and Melissa.
but that "Efie could not really 90"
why not, / should like To know.
when I've an inYitationl" asked EfTie.
You're not in society yet, dear, " said
Mrs. Meryin, blandly; land It isn't good
for young girls TO go out in the evening.
In n few years."
''In few years the Goodwoods' party
VIII be over" said Efie; "and want to
go so much. Oh, do let mel"
tfAfv ftoor 80 crsoI AZ. NJ. 80
ore only three days to get ready in, and
you have no party dress"
81 ought to have, said Efic. 'Itsa
shame"
Dear me!" said Mrs. Mervin. "As If
] didn't know better what you ought TO
have than you"
''She might alter my blue grenaudine
70 ft herself, said Amanda.
And Eitic gave q start, for the second
daughter Of the step-mOthcr In Cinder.
ella, being more good -naturcd than her
sister, cried "Give her ono Of my old
dressesW when tho famous ball was In
question
But though Mrs. Mervin did not cry
out frankly, as did the step-mothcr Of
the fairy tale "My deir, the Kings son
VIII nc there, sho thought much the
same thing. She remembered Leslie
Goodwo0d-such good match for any
one who was happy 70 catch him; and
she remembered also that Enie was much
prettier than her Melissa.
''No, my dears; no, she said, with
smile that she could always command 40
viii, and that gave her such reputa-
ton ~ an amiablc woman 'sNo, chill
dreni ! know what is best for young per
sons Effie will be a woman soon enough
and wish her childish days back again. "
With which words she left the room, TO
dress herself for shopping expedition.
for lace aud flowers and ribbons and
dainty shoes, were needed for her Girls.
even though they had handsome dresses
enough already for the Goodwoods
party.
SO Efiie was not 20 90 She was 60
remain athome and SIC up for the others
And her little face was rs long as It
well could be as she took her seat beside
The gFate fire. end put her feet upon ihe
fepdg