rom the chimney-corner.

"What, you?" cried the others, bursting into shouts of laughter; but
Cinderella only smiled and held out her hand.

Her sisters could not prevent her, since the command was that every
young maiden in the city should try on the slipper, in order that no
chance might be left untried, for the prince was nearly breaking his
heart; and his father and mother were afraid that, though a prince, he
would actually die for love of the beautiful unknown lady.

So the herald bade Cinderella sit down on a three-legged stool in the
kitchen, and himself put the slipper on her pretty little foot, which
it fitted exactly. She then drew from her pocket the fellow-slipper,
which she also put on, and stood up--for with the touch of the magic
shoes all her dress was changed likewise--no longer the poor, despised
cinder-wench, but the beautiful lady whom the king's son loved.

Her sisters recognized her at once. Filled with astonishment, mingled
with no little alarm, they threw themselves at her feet, begging her
pardon for all their former unkindness. She raised and embraced them,
told them she forgave them with all her heart, and only hoped they
would love her always. Then she departed with the herald to the king's
palace, and told her whole story to his majesty and the royal family,
who were not in the least surprised, for everybody believed in
fairies, and everybody longed to have a fairy godmother.

[Illustration: The slipper fitted exactly]

For the young prince, he found her more lovely and lovable than ever,
and insisted upon marrying her immediately. Cinderella never went home
again, but she sent for her two sisters to the palace, and with the
consent of all parties married them shortly after to two rich
gentlemen of the court.

JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK

In the days of King Alfred there lived a poor woman whose cottage was
in a remote country village many miles from London. She had been a
widow some years, and had an only child named Jack, whom she indulged
so much that he never paid the least attention to anything she said,
but was indolent, careless, and extravagant. His follies were not
owing to a bad disposition, but to his mother's foolish partiality. By
degrees he spent all that she had--scarcely anything remained but a
cow.

One day, for the first time in her life, she reproached him: "Cruel,
cruel boy! you have at last brought me to beggary. I have not money
enough to purchase ev