The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-01-31
THE GREEK CINDERELLA.

t'Ihe story Of "Cinderella'' Is very old and has
passed through many forms Perhaps it may be
surprising to know that the Greeks told this story
to their children many centuries ago. Here is the
Greek version
There were once three sisters spinning
fax, and they said, "Whosever spindle
falls, let us kill her and eat her."
The mothers spindle fell, and they let
her alone
Again they sat down to spin, and again
the mothers spindle fell, and again, and
yet again. "Ah, weilr' said they, "let
us eat her now!"
"No!' said the youngest, "do not eat
her; eat me, if flesh you will have"
But they would not; and two of them
killed their mother and cooked her for
eating.
When they had sat down to make a
meal of her, they said to the youngest,
Come and eat, too!''
But she refused and sat down on a
saddle which the fowls were covering
with filth and wept Then the youngest,
whom they called Little Saddleslut,
gathered all the bones and buried them,
and smoked them every day with incense
for forty days, and after the forty days
were out she went to take them away
and put them in another place. And
when she lifted up the stone she was
astonished at the rays of light which it
sent forth, and raiment was found there
like unto the heavens and the stars, the
spring with its flowers, the sea with its
waves, and many coins of every kind.
On Sunday her sisters went to church;
then she, too, arose; she washed and at
tired herself, putting on the garment
tlont hal lrn,
and went to church, taking with her a
few gold pieces in her purse. When she
went into the church all the people were
amazed and could not gaze upon her by
reason of the brightness of her garments.
When she left the church the people fol-
lowed her to see whittier she went Then
she filled her hand with money from her
bag and cast it in the way. Then the
crowd scrambled fer the coins, and left
her alone. And straightway she went
into the house and changed her clothes,
and put on her old things, and sat down
upon the saddle. Her sisters came home
from church and said to her: "Where
are you, wretch? Come and let us tell
you how there came into the church
maiden more glorious than the sun, who
had such garments on as you could not
look on, SO brightly did they CLEAN and
shine, and she strewed money on the
way. Look, see what a lot we have
picked up! Why did you not come, too?
worse luck to your
Next Sunday they went to church
again, and she did the same. Then they
went another Sunday, and just as she
was fiinging the money she lost her shoe
among the crowd and left it be-
hind her. Now the kings son was
fOll1xxrinor hoI h,,t oC,,l1 fnh
her, and only found her shoe
Then said he to himself: "Whose ever
foot this shoe exactly fits, without being
either too large or too small, | will take
her for my wife" And he went to all
the women he knew and tried it on, but
could not manage to fit it. Then her
sisters came to her and said: "You go
and try it on; perhaps it will fit you"
''Do not make fun of me" she said.
However, she went down, and when the
prince saw her he knew the shoe was
hers, and said to her: Il will take you
to wife"
''Do not make fun of me-" she an
swered, $50 may your youth be happy!
NAY, but | will marry you," said he,
and he took her and made her his wife.
Then she put on her fairest robes. When
little child was born to her the sisters
came to see it. And when she was help
less and alone they put her into chest
and carried her off and threw her into
river, and the river cast her forth upon
a desert.
There was a half witted old woman
there, and when she saw the chest she
thought to cut it up (for firewood) and
took it away for that purpose. And
when she had broken it up and saw
some one alive in it, she got up and made
OF. So the princess was left alone, and
heard the wolves bowling, and the swine
and the lions, and she sat and wept and
prayed to God, "Oh, God, give me q
little hole in the ground that l may hide
my head in it and not hear the wild
beasts" and he gave her one. Again
she said, oh God, give me one little
larger, that | may get in up to my
waist" And he gave her one. And
she besought him again third time,
and he gave her a cabin with all that
she wanted in it; and there she dwelt,
and whatever she said, her bidding was
done forthwith. For instance, when she
wanted to eat she would say, Come,
table, with all that is wanted. Come,
food! Come, spoons and forks, and all
things needful,," and straightway they
all got ready, and when she finished she
"Culu dSA, -AlC ybsl I'LL lIlSlC. anu llGy
would answer, I'VE are"
One day the prince came into the will
derness to hunt, and seeing the cabin he
went to find out who was inside; and
when he got there he knocked at the
door. And she saw him and knew him
from afar, and said, "Who is knocking
at the door," at is l, let me in" said he.
"Open, doors" said she. and in twink
ling the doors opened and he entered.
He went up stairs and found her seated
on chair. Good day to you," said he.
"Welcomer' said she, and straightway
all that was in the room cried out, "Wel-
GOMEZ" "Come, chair!" she cried, and
one came at once. sit down." she said
to him, and down he sat. And when she
asked him the reason'of his coming, she
bade him stay and dine.
He agreed, and straightway she gave
her orders: Come, table, with all the
covers" and forthwith they presented
themselves, and he was sore amazed.
Come, basin," she cried. Come, jug,
pour water for us TO washl Come, food, !
in ten courses!' and Immediately all that
she ordered made its appearance. After
wards, when the meal was ended, the |
prince tried to hide q spoon, and put it
into his shoe; and when they rose from