少儿英语经典故事：灰姑娘
Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a kind and beautiful girl named Cinderella. She had a loving father who worked hard to provide for his family. However, one day, her father married again. Her new stepmother brought two daughters with her—Cinderella's stepsisters.
At first, everything seemed fine, but soon, Cinderella’s life changed dramatically. Her stepmother treated her unfairly, making her do all the chores around the house. The sisters were cruel to her, leaving her to clean the floors and cook meals while they played and dressed up in their finery.
Despite her difficult situation, Cinderella remained kind-hearted and patient. Every evening, she would sit by the window, gazing at the stars, dreaming of adventure and happiness. One day, an invitation arrived from the palace. The king had organized a grand ball to celebrate his son's return, and every eligible young lady was invited.
Excitedly, Cinderella's stepsisters began preparing their outfits for the event. But poor Cinderella could only watch as they prepared, knowing she wouldn’t be allowed to attend. As the day of the ball approached, Cinderella felt sad and alone.
Just when she thought her dreams would never come true, something magical happened. A fairy godmother appeared! With a wave of her wand, the fairy transformed Cinderella's rags into a stunning gown and her old shoes into sparkling glass slippers. "Remember," said the fairy, "you must leave before midnight, for that is when the magic will end."
With her heart full of hope, Cinderella arrived at the ball. Everyone admired her beauty, and the prince fell in love with her at once. They danced all night long, but as the clock struck twelve, Cinderella remembered the fairy's warning and hurried away, leaving behind only one of her glass slippers.
The next morning, the prince went searching for the mysterious maiden whose foot fit the slipper. He visited every home in the kingdom, trying the shoe on each young woman. When he reached Cinderella's house, the stepsisters tried their best to squeeze their feet into the slipper, but it didn't fit.
Finally, it was Cinderella's turn. She slipped her foot into the shoe effortlessly, and it fit perfectly. Overjoyed, the prince asked her to marry him, and Cinderella happily accepted. Together, they lived happily ever after, proving that kindness and goodness always triumph over cruelty and greed.
