Cinderella #259 Puppet Plays from Favorite Stories (1977)

Cinderella #259 Puppet Plays from Favorite Stories (1977)

by Mahlman, L. & Cadwalader Jones,D.

That's when her
Fairy Godmother appeared! 

Once upon a time, in a puppet theater run by children, there were the following characters: Narrator, Cinderella, Lena, (the skinny sister), Fatima (the fat sister), Stepmother, Oscar (the page), Prince Charming, and the Fairy Godmother. 

Scene 1

Setting is the kitchen hearth; Lena and Fatima are going through a trunk of clothes. The Narrator tells us that "there were once three girls who lived with their stern mother in a little house not far from Prince Charming's castle." Lena and Fatima were not kind to Cinderella. They said things like,"lazy good-for-nothing". Her own mother ordered her around, making her do all the work. She often said something like,"You haven't picked up after your sisters! Look at this mess!" And when Cinderella pointed out that she'd been doing her other chores all day long, they all sneered. So, when an invitation to the prince's special ball came, this is what they said: Fatima:"Cinderella thinks she's going to the ball. The prince certainly wouldn't look at her." Lena: "Not in those rags she wears." 

Scene 2

Narrator: "And so the two vain sisters and their wicked mother got ready for the Prince's ball". They made Cinderella help them, with stitching and ironing, curling and braiding. When finally they have gone, Cinderella sits down to cry. And that is when she hears a voice! It says,"I am your fairy godmother! I heard you crying. May I help you?" And then she provides  beautiful gown, and dancing slippers. Then she says, "Here are some mice for horses, two lizards for coachmen and a pumpkin for the coach. Now watch!" And with a flick of her magic wand, they are transformed into a team of  horses and a fine carriage. Now Cinderella promises to be back before midnight, and away she goes. 

Scene 3 

"The courtyard in front of the castle...a large clock face is on the wall." Inside, the prince's page, Oscar, asks him,"Are you having a good time at your ball, Prince?" And the prince replied, "I guess so." But he didn't sound like he meant it. And when Oscar asked whether he'd chosen a bride, the prince said no. None of the girls were just right. That's when Oscar asked him about "the third sister" who had come with their mother. They had met three girls at the house; where was she now? And then Cinderella arrived! The prince saw her and said, pretending that he was not the prince, "I'm sure the prince would welcome a beautiful lady such as you at any time. Let me take you inside," They danced together all evening, but suddenly, Cinderella shouts, "I must go!" and runs away. Though the prince pleads with her, she will not come back. In running away, one slipper is left behind. 

Scene 4 

Narrator: "Cinderella rushed back to the little house as the coach disappeared and a pumpkin rolled into the gutter." All night, she dreams of the man she danced with, and the next morning she is late getting up. Her mother scolds her, but just then, "there is a knock at the door". It is, of course, the prince, carrying Cinderella's lost shoe. Of course Fatima and Lena try like anything to get their feet into the shoe. But Fatima's foot is "about a foot too long" and Lena nearly breaks the shoe in half, her feet are so wide. Then the prince says, "Perhaps we had better let the other girl try." And Cinderella steps into the room saying, "I've finished cleaning." That is when the fairy godmother appears, and says, "Let her try [the slipper on], my good woman." to the mother. So Cinderella does, and the shoe fits. "Impossible!" cries the stepmother, denying that the slipper fit, and that Cinderella had been to the ball. But the prince recognizes her and says, "Will you marry me?" Cinderella says that she will, and that she loves him "with all my heart". 

Narrator:"And so the prince married Cinderella and they all lived happily ever after — except for Lena and Fatima — ever after. (Curtain)

From Puppet Plays from Favorite Stories by Mahlman, L. & Cadwalader Jones, D. (1977)

Cinderella #258 Hello Kitty in "Cinderella" - Part 1

 Cinderella #258 Hello Kitty.
Oh my, is this ever cute! The Cinderella story translates very nicely to Japanese culture. This one goes out to all the girls for all the days that we endured under a wicked stepmother. We know who we are!

Cinderella #257 The Cinderella Hour by Katherine Stone (2005)

Cinderella #257 The Cinderella Hour by Katherine Stone (2005)

A pair of little dolls.
Left: An English girl in a gingham gown.
Right: An American mini-doll from the 1960's.

Adult fiction, 346 pages.Once upon a time, in Chicago, there lived an obsessive-compulsive mother with a little girl she called Snow. As a single mother, she supported her child with an assortment of telephone related business endeavours. At first, the mother conducted these in the bathroom, for privacy. But "once Snow was old enough to understand the conversations were make-believe", and her mother knew that she would stay silent, "they'd typically share the same space during the calls." Now, fastforward sixteeen years. The setting is the Hilltop Country Club, the event the Glass Slipper Ball. That is where Snow hears a voice. "Snow! You look radiant!' Fairy-Godmother Vivian exclaimed. 'That pink is fabulous on you!"  But great sorrow was to follow Snow. A baby, conceived in joy, and experienced as a tender, growing spirit, perished suddenly. Tiny Wendy, "wasn't the joyful mermaid Snow had envisioned frolicking in an amniotic fluid sea, swimming lap after lap as her daddy — who didn't want her — did." Through the ensuing years Wendy, Daniel and Thomas, and, of course Snow, suffer through the stages of life and death, grief and sorrow, loss and reunion. In the end, another little girl is born. They call her Julie, and she is healthy and thrives. And "in loving Julie, they loved their Wendy too". They believed that "although she would never grow up to dance and dream, as Julie would, Wendy was dancing somewhere, in a pink satin gown with a sapphire shoe."

Cinderella #256 Jump at the Sun Fairy-tale Classics: Cinderella

Cinderella #256 Jump at the Sun Fairy-tale Classics: Cinderella

It was her fairy godmother! 

Once upon a time, "there lived a girl named Cinderella, who was very beautiful and very kind." She lived in a house with a red roof. So did "her mean old stepmother and her two evil stepsisters." They did not even let Cinderella go anywhere, except out to do her chores, so she made friends with the little animals. Cinderella's indoor chores included wiping "the cinders from the fireplace". She also had to wait on her stepsisters, doing all of the things that most people do for themselves.  All day, every day, Cinderella cleaned and did laundry, styled her sisters' hair and cooked dinner. It happened one day that "a royal messenger knocked on their door." He read a letter from the king, saying,"Every girl in the kingdom is invited" to a party at the palace. Her stepsisters laughed,"Every girl but Cinderella!". Then they ran off to get their gowns ready for the big event. They were made of silks and ribbons, diamonds and gold. At last the big night came, and "the evil threesome were dressed and on their way." That's when her meanest stepsister sneered,"If yiou were clean of cinders and had something to wear, Cinderella, you could go too!" Then she ran off laughing. Cinderella knew that, by the end of the evening, the prince would have chosen a wife. How sad she felt! And then "a gentle wind of pixie dust and sparkles formed around her. Then someone appeared." It was her fairy godmother! In the moonlight, Cinderella could see that the old woman's skin was a warm brown, just like her own. Now the old fairy said," You will go to the royal ball and meet the prince! Make haste! I need five mice, a rabbit, and a pumpkin." So Cinderella ran to the garden,"called to the animals"  and they quickly came.  Then the fairy changed them into "five sturdy horses". The rabbit became "an elegant coachman" and the pumpkin was transformed into a coach. Before she knew it, Cinderella was on her way to the ball. But she remembered the fairy's warning that the magic would wear off at midnight. She looked so lovely that when she got to the ball, the prince asked her to dance right away. They "danced and they danced and they danced". And then the clock struck the first toll of the midnight hour. So she fled, but "as she ran down the stairs, the prince found the tiny glass slipper she had left behind." The next day, the prince began his search. He stopped at each house in the village, looking for maidens with small feet. When he got to Cinderella's house, "each of her stepsisters tried, but couldn't get one toe into the tiny glass slipper. Then the prince saw Cinderella. As soon as he saw her again, he knew that she was the one for him. So he asked," Will you be my wife?' Cinderella said,"Yes, I will.' And they lived happily ever after."

From: Jump at the Sun Fairy Tale Classics: Cinderella. (2004) New York: Hyperion Books for Children

Notes: In this lovely tale, you will find the traditional Perrault retelling, with a couple of nice twists. The first is that everyone in the whole story is black. The fairy godmother, the prince, the sisters, Cinderella, everyone. Also the appearance of a rabbit! Rabbits are traditional helpers in many cultures, including those of the African continent, and African American derivatives such as Brer Rabbit. 

Cinderella #255 A Lovely Night (Rodgers & Hammerstein,1958)

Illustration by Rackham, A.

Once upon a time, in the USA, there were two men who wrote some of the best songs ever heard. While singing about Cinderella, they showed us the excitement of a night at the palace, and gave us a breath of the sweet scent of a summer night. 

"Refrain: A lovely night, a lovely night, a finer night you'll never see. You meet your prince..." well, of course he is "a charming one". Rodgers and Hammerstein go on to visualize "the stars in a hazy heaven" trembling above the two lovers. Then Cinderella runs, with "on her lips, a kiss", which she will always remember, that "lovely, lovely night."

From: The Rodgers and Hammerstein Songbook. Simon & Shuster Inc. and Williamson Inc. (1958)

I don't think this one here, on Amazon, is the one that I used. Mine came from the LINK+ network, via the Berkeley Public Library. 

Grandpa & Grandma Like Cinderella Too!

Notes: Oh, how these people made me laugh! So sweet, so funny! They remind me so much of my own darling Grandma and Grandpa, now gone.

Cinderella #254 Super Why! Cinderella Sticker Stories (With Over 74 Stickers!)

Cinderella #254 Super Why! Cinderella Sticker Stories (With Over 74 Stickers!)

"Hi Cinderella. We're the Super Readers!"
said Super Why. (Grosset & Dunlap,2009)

Once upon a time, there were some Readers who were really Super! Their names were "Alpha Pig with Alphabet Power, Wonder Red With Word Power, Princess Presto with Spelling Power, and Super Why with Power to Read!"  They were all trying to help their friend, Red Riding Hood, with a big problem. She was invited to a princess party, but she doesn't have "princess-y things". The Readers agreed that this was a problem, and then did what they always did when they needed advice. They chanted their magical chant, and "a book floated down from the bookshelf. The title was Cinderella." That's how they got the idea to jump right into the book. "Super-Readers, to the rescue!" the four sang out while they zoomed in. First, Princess Presto uses her Spelling Wand to spell d-r-e-s-s, and a lovely one appears for Cinderella. Then, when the clock strikes twelve, something even better happens. Instead of having to G-O, Super Why helps Cinderella spell S-T-A-Y! 

From Super Why! Cinderella Sticker Stories (2009) Grossett & Dunlap

Notes: I think this story is funny and practical; I like the background message of do your own thing and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. At least not until you have had the chance to try it. In any case, if you like stickers, especially Cinderella stickers, you will love this book. 

Cinderella #253 Krakskinns-raja (The Crow Skin Cloak)

Cinderella #253 Krakskinns-raja (The Crow Skin Cloak)

"Im cold!" complained the apple.

Once upon a time, in Upland, there lived a sad orphaned girl. Her mother had died, and her father remarried. Alas, her dear father then died, leaving her with her stepmother and stepsisters. They were cruel, and ill-treated her. The slow years passed until all three girls were of age. Then there came an invitation that they, along with other maidens in the kingdom, were summoned to the palace. From among them, the prince would choose his bride. The cunning stepsisters would risk no chance of their puny step-sister winning the prince, so they give her "a sleeping draught". By the time the poor girl awakens, they have nearly reached the palace. Meanwhile, Little Crow Skin has awakened. Realizing what has happened, she sets off down the road. As the stepsisters travel the last mile towards the palace, they have some unusual encounters. First an apple, "complaining of cold" is passed on the street. The stepsisters "urge the driver to lash it with a whip". But shortly, they pass a pear blocking the road, complaining loudly of the cold. Again, the stepsisters command their driver to beat the fruit. Next they are blocked by a plum, which is beaten nearly to jam with the whip, and on they go to the palace. When along comes the girl in the Crow Skin Cloak, she too finds a large, red apple in her path, shivering and complaining of the cold. "Poor thing!' she said, and popped it "into her bosom". Along she went, and soon came to the pear. It was yellow, with a green stem, and plump with juice. But it cried out, saying that the weather had turned cold. So Little Crow Skin tucked this fruit into her bosom as well. And no sooner had she taken a dozen steps than she came across a ripe, purple plum, plop! in the middle of the path. It too eyed Little Crow's bosom and said it was cold. Little Crow skin squeezed it in with the apple and the pear, and went along her way. She planned to take service at the castle, and see if she couldn't meet the prince in that way. When she knocked at the kitchen door, the Cook said that she could use a scullery maid, and so began Crow Skin's time of menial service. When Sunday came, she got permission to go to church. First she went into her chamber and drew out the apple, to ask its advice. But it had changed into a fine gown of apple red! So she put it on, and went to church. Who should sit next to her but the prince himself, and so nervous was Little Crow Skin at his presence that she fled as soon as she could. The following Sunday, she thought to consult the pear for advice. When she drew it out, it transformed into a lovely dress of sunshine yellow, a green ribbon at the throat. Again she entered the church, and again the prince sat next to her. The moment the service was over, she fled. On the third Sunday, Crow Skin went to church one more time, this time in a gown of plum-purple. And this time, the prince tried to grab the girl before she could run. Yet he so startled her that as she ran, she lost one of her shoes. All the prince could do was clutch this as she disappeared. The next day, the prince decreed that all maidens must assemble at the palace. They were to "sit behind a curtain and put their foot out", so the girls all went over. A great long curtain had been hung and the line of maidens passed behind this barrier. At a signal, each put out her foot, and the prince tried the shoe upon it. The foot it slides onto is none other than that of Crow Skin. She is pulled from behind the curtain and revealed in her tattered cloak of feathers. That is when she takes it off, revealing the purple gown. Of course the prince recognizes her now, and she has passed the "shoe marriage test"! The wedding is held the following week, and they live happily on. 

From Cox, M. R. (1893/2011) p. 49

Notes: OK, this is a very cool transformation, from fruit to gown. I love the colors invoked by the apple, pear, and plum. They are so rich and vivid when you are fortunate to have real ones around in abundance. I am thankful for that, and so very grateful that I live with fresh fruit outside. 

Cinderella #252 Cinderella: Fun with Flaps

Cinderella #252 Cinderella: Fun with Flaps

If only you could turn the flap,
and see the gowns!

Once upon  a time, there lived "a pretty girl named Cinderella". She had two stepsisters, who were so mean that "everyone called them the Ugly Sisters." They made her do all of the cooking and cleaning, and they did not have modern gas and electric appliances. (Note: here Cinderella is on her knees scrubbing while dressed in rags; turn flap to see her stand and blush as she accepts the Royal Invitation). But her stepmother said,"You're not going to the ball, Cindderella!". Then she ordered the girl to make new outfits for the Ugly Sisters. (See Ugly Stepsisters in their ugly uderwear; turn flap to see them in green and blue gowns.) The big day finally arrived, and Cinderella was kept working right up until the Ugly Sisters left. That is when "a lady appeared", saying, "I am your Fairy Godmother. Why are you crying?" When Cinderella said that she was disappointed at not being able to go to the ball, the fairy said that she could go after all! But first,  she would need "a pumpkin, six mice, a rat, and two lizards". Waving her magic wand, the fairy transformed these into a coach, six white horses, a coachman, and two footmen. Cinderella went to the ball, and danced with the prince. But "then the clock started to strike twelve! Cinderella fled." (see her flee, then turn flap to see the prince finding her shoe). In the morning, the Ugly Sisters chatted about the Prince, and how he had found the shoe of the lovely, mysterious girl who had run away from him at the ball. They schemed, saying to each other that the prince was searching each house for the right maiden. They agreed that when he came to their house, they would not let Cinderella try the shoe. One sister said,"I will put on the slipper. Then the prince will have to marry me."...

From: Cinderella with Flaps. Barron's Canada 

NOTE: This book is missing pages, which is really cruel. Let's make up the rest of the story:

When the prince arrived at the Ugly Sister's house, he saw several girls. One of them pushed to the front of the line, and pushed her foot into the shoe. It fit! Kind of. So the prince married her the next day. They had their first fight the next night, and the new bride moved back home a month later. They have since divorced. 

Cinderella #251 The Cinderella Rules by Kauffman, D.

Cinderella #251 The Cinderella Rules by Kauffman, D. 

Note: Not for kids.

Glitter and pizazz, girls, glitter and pizazz!

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Darby. When she was eleven years old, and her baby sister, Pepper, was not even one yet, their mother died. Their father was rich, however, and maintained a series of housekeepers to care for the girls. They grew up lonely, if in splendor. Two decades later, the sisters have a fractious relationship. In Ch. 1 we learn what Darby really thinks about her sister, during a phone call. "I get the picture.' Darby broke in, trying like hell not to visualize a Braziian guys with brown, stringy coconut balls hanging between his legs." When Pepper had a boyfriend, it usually lasted "about as long as the standard hotel-sized bottle of shampoo". Then we learn the Cinderella Rules. For example, Rule #1: Make decisions with care, because, in the end, yiou have only yourself to blame for the outcome." Rule #5: There is a time and place for everything. However, it always pays to be aware of potential..." Rule #7: "On matters of importance, be aware that tose closest to you may not posess the clarity of mind to provide an objective opinion..." Rule #10: You will deal with others who wear smiles on their faces but but carry malice in their hearts..." Rule #17: The heart is a fickle thing. It doesn't always require extensive time or deep analysis to make up its mind on what it wants. It can happen in a blink. Be prepared..." Rule #21: Sometimes, we're called upon to perform tasks that fall well outside our comfort zone. Just remember that nothing was ever gained by not trying..." And finally, Rule #24 "Occasionally, the right thing does happen at the right time. And you do get a second chance. For heaven's sake, don't screw it up!"

From Kaffman, D. The Cinderella Rules (2004) New York: Random House

Notes: Funny, sexy, a great book to take along on a plane ride or vacation, when you want a can't-put-it-downer.

Cinderella #250 Ed McBain: Cinderella (1986)

Cinderella #250 Ed McBain: Cinderella (1986)

The Brothers Grimm
would likely have become fans
of Ed McBain. 

Note: Not a kids book. Once upon a time in Florida, there lived "a hooker with style, looks, youth — and a one-in-a-million shot at the big money". She had learned that a certain drug dealer, a man who was a "slightly overweight, middle-aged private investigator with a penchant for whiskey and a lonely habit of hanging out in bars." So she followed him one night, on a deserted Florida road. It had begun some time after disguising herself as a "WASP princess from Denver, Colorado...daughter of a rich rancher." With a gown and some coaching, she set her target up. What happened next between Cinderella, Jimmy Legs, Stagg, and a man named Jamie Purchase, you will find out by reading Cinderella by McBain, Ed.

Cinderella #249 The Cinderella Game, by Kelly Link

.Cinderella #249 The Cinderella Game, by Kelly Link (2009) From Troll's Eye View 

Who was that troll under the bridge?

Note: contains violence. Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Darcy whose mommy had abandoned her when she was small. Her daddy had remarried, to a lady with a son of her own. His name was Peter and he was twelve years old, already feeling the surge of testosterone in his blood. He was also resentful of his mother's new husband. And he hated his stepsister, doing all the things he could to torment her. When she asked him, "Why are you so mean?", in a voice like she really wanted to know, he answered,"I'm not mean, I'm just honest. It's not like I'm your real brother. We just happen to live in the same house because your father needed someone to do his taxes and my mother is a certified accountant." To himself he added that her mom was poor, while his dad was rich. It happened one evening that the children's parents were out, and the babysitter, old Mrs. Daly, had been called away on an emergency. Darcy was asleep, but Peter was wide awake. It was well past dark, and he had snuck into his dad's secret study to watch a horror movie. There were leather sofas, and a giant flat-screen tv. Right at the part where the werewolves were coming, Darcy came bargin in, still dressed in a fairy princess outfit that had been "pink and spangled, at one point. Now it looked like something a zombie would wear to a fancy dress party." He was so startled by his bratty little step-sister that he dropped his bowl of popcorn all over the sofa. He stared at the greasy stain it left on the couch. Darcy would not stop pestering him about playing a game with him. She even offered him money, which made him perk up his ears. He got an allowance, but it was never enough, especially since now he was on half-pay scale after "he'd knocked a glass of orange juice over on his laptop, and his mom said she was only going to pay for half of what a new one would cost." So he accepted her offer, on condition that he got to choose the game. He said,"For a lousy twenty bucks, I get to be whoever I want. I'm Cinderella. You can be the evil stepsister."  And Darcy told him,"You can't be Cinderella." And Peter demanded to know why. "You're a boy." she answered. They argued for some time, until Peter said, "I've changed my mind. I'm going to be the evil Cinderella." So Darcy bared her teeth at Peter, and the game began. The evening concluded with a bloody dinner fork, a puncture wound that should have had medical attention, and some unfortunate family dynamics. 

From: Troll's Eye View: A Book of Villainous Tales. England:Penguin Books

Notes: A truly villainous take on Cinderella, quite modern and dark, and sickeningly accurate. Take it from this preschool teacher: children often are not bathed properly each night. Sometimes, they look downright grungy. This vicious description of 8 year old Darcy is fairly I accurate, for some kids...Cinderellas, indeed.

Cinderella #248 "Perfectly Perfect" (Russian)

 Ok, this is so perfect! Early childhood experiences with European fairy tales have certainly swayed me, but Disney is sweeter in Russian, for sure!

Cinderella #247 The KIng of Spain and the English Milord

Cinderella #247

Hark, hark, the dogs do bark!

One upon a time, "a king said to his son on his 18^th birthday,'Time is going by, old age is drawing nigh. Why don't you take a wife? If we die, who will inherit the kingdom?" And he insisted that his son take a wife immediately. The prince did not want to marry so soon, and replied,"Father, please understand I will marry only when I've found a girl as white as ricotta and rosy as a rose." So the king ordered his royal portrait painters to scour the kingdom for such maidens, and paint their portraits. In one year's time, they were to return to court so that the prince could choose his bride. And "one of these grandees went to Spain, where where the first thing he did was stop and talk with a chemist." When that man understood what the search was for, he said that he knew such a maiden. However, it would be difficult to see her, for she was a shielded fine lady. Then the chemist ran to a lady he knew, and begged him to present her to the portrati painter. He told her,"If you allow him to paint it, you will be paid forty gold crowns." So the portrait was painted, and the fee paid. Then the portrait was carried back to the palace, for the year was now over. There the prince examined them carefully. Then he stopped right in front of the Spanish maiden's likeness and said,"If the face itself is like the portrait, it is truly a perfect face." He sent for the maiden, who came, but only after she had "spent four months at a palace learning to be a queen". When she got to the palace and married the prince, the queen really took a liking to her. In fact, "she and her mother-in-law got along together like a pair of pigeons. a rarity, since mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law have quarreled from the beginning of time. Yet Beezelbub, as you know, is always on the look-out for a way in", and now he nagged the queen into criticizing her daughter-in-law for never going out on the balcony. So the girl went out, and "at that instant, an English milord happened by" and saw the princess, and fell in love with her. Knowing that this was impossible, the young man's health failed. One day, as he pined for the princess in the road by the palace, an old woman stopped to speak with him. She asked him kindly what his trouble was, and he rudely replied,"Be off with you, it's  none of your business." But the old one will not budge, and at last, the milord tells her that he longs to see the princess. The old woman says that she can arrange this, if only the man will provide her with a diamond ring to carry to the princess. So the milord buys one, and gives it to the granny. Who promptly enters the palace and sells it to the princess for 300 crowns. Then she pockets the gold and tells the milord that the princess accepted the ring and will send word in 10 days. But 10 days later, when she appears to meet the milord, she requests a valuable necklace for the princess, and then a gown. All are sold to the princess, and the old woman stows a cool one thousand five hundred crowns "in her coffers". She then tells the princess that a grand ball is to be held, and that she will be the most fashionable of all if she wears the dress, necklace and ring. Then she goes back to the young lord. and  suggests that he host a grand ball, saying that the princess has agreed to speak to him then. So the lord does, but the princess doesn't. And from there, events take a series of dramatic turns, including: the prince disguised as a peasant; the wrath of the prince when he finds out his princess has played him false; a shipwreck, in which the princess is cast upon an island, and not killed after all, as ordered. She is subsequently employmed as a paralegal.( For real. see:Calvino, p.573)The captain of the ship that left the princess on an island kills a dog instead, and gives its tongue to the prince as proof of his wife's death. At last, the truth comes out, and the prince sends for the old woman. He says to her,"Tell me, good old woman, about those sales of yours to the princess?' And the old biddy unbosomed herself." But she declared that the princess was innocent, as she had neither sent nor received any messages, merely bought costly items from the old woman. She was guilty of vanity, nothing more.  So the prince forgave her, and "the two captains — the one who killed a dog instead of a princess, and the one who rescued her and took her to Brazil — were elevated to the rank of court grandees. And all the sailors were awarded pom-pons for their berets."

From: Calvino, I. (1953) Italian Folktales, Selected and Retold

Notes: This story is from the city of Palermo, Italy. 

Cinderella #246 Bride From the Sea

"To his delight,
he discovered a large fish
in the net." Illustration by
Hemkunt Press

Once upon a time, in India, "a fisherman named Singaram once lived in a small hut, close by the sea."At dawn every day, he would push his small boat out onto the waves and spend the day fishing. One day, though he had baited his line again and again, he could not catch a single fish. Just as the sun was setting, he "discovered a large fish in the net, of a kind he had never seen before." It was nearly as big as he, and colored a rich, rosy red. Most surprising of all was that it spoke, saying, "Kind Sir, if you do take me home, please do not cook me for your dinner. For I can be of use to you." Then the fish told the man that he could take care of the man's cow. The man was quite surprised that the fish even knew he had a cow, let alone that his young cowherd had not presented himself in several days. "Thus, Singaram was only too pleased to accept the fish's offer though he wondered how a fish would lead a cow out to graze." But as he rowed closer to shore, the fish began to shrink. As they stepped onto the sand, the fish was small enough to fit into Singaram's palm. He took it home and showed his family, who marveled at the little red fish. When Singaram put it onto the back of the cow, and "he was surprised to see that the fish began to give the cow instructions  and the cow listened." So the fish proved its worth. This life went on for quite some time, until, one day, "the cow went further into the forest than usual," found some especially tasty grass, and ignored the fish's orders to go home. Unfortunately for the cow, the man appeared just then, and began beating it with a stick. That's when the fish called  out, "Oh man, do not touch me, or else I will kill you in a matter or moments." At this, the man thought his cow had begun to speak, and trembled in fear. So the fish took advantage of the foolish man, and brought the cow to graze in his best garden every day. And since the cow now fattened itself on the sweetest herbs, its milk began to run rich and strong. Soon it "supplied Singaram with milk by the bucketful." He sold this, and made lots of money. In fact, he made so much money that he built himself a fine, large home. Here he raised his son, who "grew up to become a handsome young man." His father realized that it was time to find "a suitable match" for him, and so he "searched and searched". But none could be found. He lamented about this one night at home. That's when the fish said,"Why do you search for a bride so far away? There's a suitable bride living under your roof in only you care to look!" And that is when "the fish changed into a beautiful young girl." She said,"I am not really a fish.", then told him of the curse she was under. It had been partially broken now that she had been chosen as a bride. She confided in her father-in-law-to-be," I can be a woman by day, but at night I will have to return to my fish form." So the man married his son to the girl who had been a fish. They lived happily together, but the groom very much wished that his bride was a woman at night, and not a fish. So he observed her routine, and learned that "she would take a bath in the sea before turning into a fish. Every night she would carry her fish skin with her. She would leave it on the shore, have her bath, then return to slip into it and become a fish." Now the young man snatched the fish skin, and ran home. There he tossed it into the fire, where it "burnt itself to ashes in a manner of minutes." Just then, his wife came back from the sea, "looking more  beautiful than ever, dressed in a gorgeous silk sari." The spell was broken, and they lived happily as man and wife for the rest of their lives. 

From: Fairy Tales from India (Hemkunt,1996)

Cinderella #245 Maid Maleen (Grimm)

The moon, according
to NASA. 

Once upon a time, in what would later become Germany, there lived "a king who had a son, and his son wished to wed the daughter of a powerful king." The girl he loved was named Maid Maleen, and she was a renowned beauty. But her father, the powerful king, had already chosen a match he considered more advantageous. He refused to give his son permission to marry Maid Maleen. So Maleen told her father "I cannot and will not accept anyone else as my husband."  Those words so angered her father that he "became furious and ordered a dark tower to be built that prevented the rays of the sun and the moon from penetrating its walls." Then he threw his daughter into it, with food enough to last for seven years, and sealed the entry. The time passed slowly for Maid Maleen and her handmaid. They learned to gauge time by the dwindling store of food, and, when it was nearly gone, they knew that the seven years were drawing to an end. But no one came to rescue them. At last, Maild Maleen said to her handmaid,"We have just one last resort. We must see if we can break through the wall." So they took it in turns to pick at the mortar, and soon had loosened a series of stones. When the hole was big enough, they climbed out. Then they understood why no one had come for them: the kingdom "lay in ruins, the city and villages, as far as they could see, had been burned to the ground, the fields had been destroyed. Not a soul could be seen." A search for food brought only wild nettles and bitter berries. At last, the two maidens begged at a nearby castle. "There, they were told to move on, until the cook came and said they could work in the kitchen as cinderellas. The son of the king in whose realm they were now living was none other than the former betrothed of Maid Maleen." He had a new betrothed, chosen for him by his father. She "had a face as ugly as sin, and her heart was just as wicked." She was kept hidden away until the day of the wedding, at which time she still dreaded to show her face. So she instructed her maids to find a servant to wear the wedding gown, and walk in her place. They brought up Maid Maleen from the scullery, and the bride to be ordered her to wear the gown. Maid Maleen refused. The wicked princess ordered her a second time; she refused again. Now the wicked princess declared that she would have the girl's head chopped off if she did not comply. So Maid Maleen had no choice but to obey. But when the prince saw her, he thought to himself,"She looks just like my Maid Maleen; I'd swear it was really her, but I'm sure she's a prisoner in the tower, or she's dead." So he took the maiden by the hand and started along the path to church. That's when Maid Maleen sang out," Nettle bush, nettle bush, so small and so bear, why are you now standing there? There was a time, you know, when I ate you raw, you know, raw and rough." And the prince wondered what this meant. They went on, and soon came to a footbridge. Now the girl in the wedding gown called out," Footbridge, please don't break or chide, for I'll gladly admit I'm not his true bride." Rather, she said, that honor should go to Maid Maleen. The prince asked what this meant, but the girl said nothing. When they got to the church door, the girl in the gown chanted again that she was not "his true bride". The prince ignored this, and placed a heavy necklace of gems around his bride's neck. Then they went into church where "the priest clasped their hands in wedlock". Now the bride left the prince and ran to the chamber of the real bride. They quickly exchanged clothes. But Maid Maleen kept the necklace hidden. Then the real bride put on a veil to cover her ugly face, and went to the prince. That's when he asked her why she had spoken that way to a nettle bush. She denied having said a word to the bush, but soon realized that her double had deceived her. She ran and asked what she had said, then repeated the rhyme to the prince. His confusion only deepened, so he asked why she had spoken to the draw bridge. Again she tried to deny that she had done so, and again, realized her mistake. She ran to Maid Maleen, learned the rhyme, and spoke it for the prince. But now he demanded to know what she had said at the church door. When she could not repeat it, he insisted that she show him the necklace. And since she was ignorant of rhyme and jewelry, he declared,"If you don't know this, then you're not my true bride." But she told him,"I'm the bride you were to marry but I was afraid that the people would have mocked me when they saw me on the streets. So I commanded the cinderella to put on my clothes and go to church in my place." Then they sent for Maid Maleen, and the false bride told the servants "that the kitchen cinderella was a cheat and that they were to chop off her head." Maid Maleen screamed so loud that "that the prince heard her voice". Of course, he came and set her free. Then he called for a light, and that is when he saw "the golden necklace around her neck that he had given her at the church door." so he knew that she was his lawfully wedded wife. He drew her into his chambers and asked her why she had mentioned Maid Maleen earlier. That's when she told him,"I am Maid Maleen. For seven years, on your account, I was a prisoner in darkness and suffered hunger and thirst. Then I lived for a long time in need and poverty. But today the sun is shining on me once again, "So they "kissed each other and were happy for the rest of their lives." As for the ugly princess, "as payment for her actions...she had her head chopped off." And the tower that had held Maid Maleen captive remained for many, many years. The children who lived near chanted as they passed the ruins,"Cling, clang, clum, who's sitting there alone and glum? The princess sits without a key, the princess I can't see. The walls are thick and will not break, the stones won't move, for heaven's sake. Come, little Hans, with your coat so gay, come follow me this very day. 

From, The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm (1812/2003) Ed.: Zipes p. 574 

Notes: Again with the seclusion in the dark where the sun don't shine...this time in a tower instead of below the ground, but still. Good for Maleen for breaking out, though she went a bit overboard on telling the truth, I think. Come on. You don't have to sing to every bush and bridge, admitting that you're false. 

Cinderella #244 Jim Henson's Hey Cinderella Part 1

Notes: I am a longtime Muppet fan, and always adore the interaction between man and muppet that Jim Henson created. Oh, for the days of the original Sesame Street! (C is for cookie, and that's good enough for me...)

Cinderella #243 Little Melon

"Good morning, Brother Wolf!"
sang out Little Melon. 

Once upon a time, in India, "there was an old farmer and his wife. They lived in a village. They had no children. This often made them feel sad and lonely." One day, while the farmer's wife was out picking cotton, she "saw a beautiful yellow melon growing wild on a creeper". Never had she seen such a lovely melon, "so pretty and round". But when she had picked it, she saw that it was not unblemished. In fact, "there were some holes and marks on it, which made it look like the face of a man."Still, she was sure that the melon would be sweet and tasty, so she took it home. When she got home, she cooked breakfast, making "eight big pancakes (chappatis). [Then] she tied them up in a piece of cloth, filled an earthen pot with whey and put a big pat of butter in it." This was to be the farmer's breakfast. Now she lamented, thinking of the long walk to the field and back again, saying aloud that she wished she had a sturdy child to help her. That's when she heard a voice! It said,"Mother! I will carry the breakfast for my father. Give me the bundle." So the woman put the pancakes and butter on top of her melon-child's head, and sent him off to her husband. Now the little melon "skipped out of the doorway into the narrow street outside. He skipped on and on and was soon out of sight." When he got to the field, he called out,"Father!" in "a voice loud and long". The farmer was very perplexed and said to himself,"It may have been the crow sitting up there on the neem tree or perhaps a jackal howling among the bushes yonder. I never had a son. Who could address me as father?" So he resumed ploughing. But here came a little melon, "with the pot of whey and pancakes balanced on its head and dancing on the edge of the field". When the farmer saw him he he thanked him for the food, but said that he must "take the bullocks to the stream to drink water." Now the melon offered to do this, and the man said,"Can you do that, Melon? You are so small and helpless!" But the melon was sure that he could manage, and off he went. Alas, the little melon soon was kicked off the path by the bullocks and landed in the stream. "Poor Mr. Melon was being carried helplessly along by the current." As luck would have it, he was snagged on a tree branch. He "struggled out of the water onto the dry land and was once again in high spirits." But when he asked the passersby if any had seen his bullocks they said, "Why Little Melon, your bullocks strayed into the field, and began eating the green corn." They had been put into the King's cattle pound. Now brave Little Melon "made himself a little chariot from leaves and dried twigs. He harnessed field mice" to it, and set off for the king's palace. He sang, "I made a chariot out of twigs and leaves, asked the mice to serve as steeds, fast my chariot go along, over the hill and down the vale with a merry song!" Soon he passed a wild cat who asked him where he was going. But for reply Little Melon only sang out," "I made a chariot out of twigs and leaves, asked the mice to serve as steeds, fast my chariot go along, over the hill and down the vale with a merry song!" And the cat said, "Will you not take me with you, Mr. Melon?" And jumped up onto the chariot. Soon a wolf jumped out into the path, and asked, "What is all this hurry about?" The melon called out, "Good morning, Brother Wolf!" and then sang his song. The wolf begged to be taken along, saying that he might be of help, so the melon said, "Get into my ear, Brother Wolf!" So he did, and they went rolling along. Soon they passed a fire, and it too called out in greeting. "Good morning, Brother Fire!" answered the melon, and then he sang his song. And the fire begged to come along, saying perhaps it would be useful. The melon welcomed it, so "the fire gathered itself together and went down into the ear of Little Melon".  Before long, they were at the palace gate. The sentries were "astonished to see a melon in a strange chariot made of leaves and drawn by mice". Taking advantage of their surprise, Little Melon charged past. Coming upon the king he cried out,"KIng! King! Give me back my bullocks!" But the king only burst out laughing and ordered his soldiers to "Take the naughty fellow away, and shut him in the hens' coop." So this was done. And when the hens came at him, Little Melon yelled, "Fee faw, fig and fern, get out cat, it is thy turn!" So the cat jumped out and killed the hens. When the soldiers opened the coop in the morning, Little Melon jumped out and taunted the king. So the king ordered him thrown into the sheep's pen. " He will make a tasty meal for them." he said. But Little Melon only chanted, "Fee faw, fig and fern, get out wolf, it is thy turn!" and that was the end of the sheep. Once more, Little Melon ran out and taunted the king, who now ordered him shut up "in the vault under the palace". Once he was there, Little Melon chanted, "Fee faw, fig and fern, get out Fire! It is your turn!" And soon the whole palace floor was on fire. Now Little Melon rushed into the King's bedroom, and woke up his majesty, and his queen. They "ran out of their bedroom dressed in their night gowns", and Little Melon shouted, "Good evening, your majesty. Did I not warn you that I would come to get my bullcoks?" And the king begged the melon to call off the fire, saying that he was welcome to his bullocks back. But Little Melon said,  "Not so soon, your highness. I will accept nothing less than the hand of the princess." So the king had to agree to this. As soon as the Queen spoke her agreement, "the fire retreated. The melon burst open with a loud bang, and out came a handsome young man, richly dressed in beautiful clothes. 'I was a prince.' said the young man, bowing low, 'A witch had turned me into a melon." The only way to break the spell was for someone to agree to let their daughter marry the round fruit. So "the prince and princess were soon married and there were great rejoicings all over the country for many days. The prince did not forget to call on the old woman and the poor farmer. He loaded them with gold and silver, and had a new house built for them in their village." 

From Fairy Tales from India (1996) New Delhi: Helmkunt PressFairy Tales from India or try The Ocean of Story: Fairy Tales from India

Notes: I love that this is another carriage from large orange fruit, pulled by a team of mice! Though this has some very unique elements, it is most definitely a Cinderella story! You cannot deny the melon/pumpkin connection, the nothing-to-something special trajectory of the hero, (wow, going from a melon to marrying the King's son!) or the animal helpers. 

Cinderella #242: Kraake Lange

Baba Yaga, by Haviland, V.
If Kraake Lange and Baba Yaga
had a smack-down,
 who would win?

Once upon a time, in Finland, there lived "a widower and his daughter,who sink through a little hill to the sorceress, Kraake Lange". To the girl's dismay, her father marries the sorceress, who has a daughter of her own. Soon, Kraake Lange begins ordering the girl about, forcing her to do all of the hardest work. She makes her tend the cows in the field all day long, but does not send any food for the child to eat. That is why the sorceress is so surprised that "the less food she gives her, the better she seems nourished." So she decides to "gives her daughter a couple of magic eyes to put into her neck, and sends her to spy" on her step-sister. That is how the sorceress discovers that her step-daughter is eating food from "the ear of an ox". So she lays plans to kill that ox, and has a "pitfall made in the road". But the ox has heard the sorceress and so understands what it to come. He "drives the cows into the trap and they are killed. Then he says to the heroine, "One of us must die; better I than you. When I am dead, take and bury my bones, walk over my grave, wish for three things, and you shall get them." So the girl watched while the sorceress killed the ox. Then she followed the directions the ox had given her, very carefully. She wished for "a horse, a saddle, and three dresses — a poor one, a middling one, and a very lovely one." She receives these. Months pass and summer comes. Now the girl is ordered to "spin hard" while the rest go to church. She puts on the "poorest dress", goes to church, and meets the prince. When the service ends, she rushes out to her horse and mounts. Now "a young man accosts her and asks her to follow him home". She "lets her whip drop;he springs from his horse to pick it up, and she too, dismounts." As soon as she steps foot on the ground, however, she makes a wish: that she is home again, behind the oven". POOF! There she is, at home, comfy and warm behind the oven. It turns out that her poor old dress has the power of granting wishes! The following Sunday, the girl goes to church wearing her middling dress. And when the young man tries to speak with her, "she lets her golden shoe drop,and the young man gets it, and keeps it."He searches all over for the maiden who can wear that golden shoe, and "at last, comes to a little hill whence issues [the] agreeable smell of cooking".  Now the young man "sinks down and comes to Kraake Lange. Neither she nor her daughter can get the shoe on", but it slips onto the young girl's foot quite easily. And that is how the young man discovers that the maiden is none other than his long lost sister! Since he is currently serving as one of the King's Men, he tells the King of his sister's great beauty, and "the King wants to see her".  When the maiden and her brother present themselves at the castle, the King accepts her as his bride." They are married and the girl lives happily as the new Queen,  with her beloved brother nearby. 

From Cox, M. R. (1893/2011) p. 397

Notes: It just goes to show the importance of paying attention,and then following the directions. What if the maiden muddled the directions from the ox, and walked once around the grave, or only twice? Couldn't have had the horse and the saddle and the three dresses, now, could she? For more Finnish fun, read Finn Family Moomintroll

Cinderella #241 The Girl With the Louse-Skin Cloak (1878)

Nine dolls from Russia (1950's)
and the Slovak Republic (2008)

Once upon a time, in Russia,  there lived a young girl who had no one to look out for her. Her mother had died many years earlier. One day, at supper with her father, who was the king, she had a terrible surprise. HIs majesty gazed fondly at his daughter, and his eyes glazed over with memory. Mistaking his own daughter for his wife in her maiden years, he declared that he would marry her.  With no advocate to guide her, the girl herself attempting to delay her father's advances. She would marry him, she said, if he got her a dress made of finest copper thread. Within moments, the king found one for her. Next she said that if only she had a dress made entirely of silver, she would be ready to marry. In the morning, the dress of silver was by her bed. Now she told her father that to  honor him properly, she would need a dress of gold. Before the sun had set he presented her with the dress. She thanked him prettily, then said that she had just one more request. Could he get for her a cloak made entirely of the silvery skins of lice? If he could bring her this she told him, at last she would be ready for the marriage. For the next week, the girl passed her time making plans, and conferring with her dolls. She had nine of them. Seven days after she asked for the louse-skin cloak, her father presented it to her. She thanked him and went back upstairs. Then she dressed herself in her copper dress, her silver dress, and her golden dress, put the louse-skin cloak over all, and sat down with her nine beloved dolls. She dressed them and spoke to them, telling them of her desperation. How she wished that her mother were still alive to help her and care for her. The dolls advised that she must "seek her dead mother in the other world". So, instead of going downstairs to marry her father, she climbed carefully out of her bedroom window and ran away. She walked until she came to the forest, and then she walked until she was in the deepest part of the forest. A river ran near, and the entrance to a large cave loomed ahead. The girl trudged on until she had passed through the cave. Then she walked some more, going downhill all the way. It got darker and darker, and warmer and warmer, and soon she found herself drowsy and exhausted. She slowed, and then stopped, At last, she lay down and fell asleep. When she awoke a gentleman in a black frock coat was standing over her. He dabbed her forehead brusquely with a damp handkerchief, and said, "Get up, Girl in a Louse-Skin Cloak,  and get to work! I have revived you, and in exchange you must keep my house for me." And the girl had no choice but to get up and go. On Sunday, the girl said that she must go to church, but the gentleman forbade her. As soon as she was left alone, she snuck there anyway, wearing her copper dress. The prince himself noticed her, and sat next to her. When the service was over, she fled. The next Sunday she again begged permission to go to church. Again, it was denied. The moment she was left alone she changed into her silver dress, and crept there anyway. The prince beamed with pleasure to see her again, and once more sat down beside her. And again the mysterious girl in the silver gown fled the instant the service was over. For the third Sunday in a row, the girl asked for, and was denied, permission to go to church. So she very quietly slipped into her golden dress and tiptoed off to church. The prince once more engaged her in conversation, and held fast to her hand while the service came to an end. She did not know that he had arranged a trap for her on the steps leading down from the church. At his signal, the "monks pour oil at [the] church entrance". The girl runs, she slips, then slides, then tumbles down the steps, losing a shoe. She flees, but the prince catches hold of the shoe and gets one long, last look at the girl he thinks he loves. He orders a search of every house in the village. None of the girls seem able to wear the shoe. Where can the pretty owner of it be? When all but the last house has been searched, the prince finds his resolve faltering. Can the girl really be in the last house, or will his search turn up empty? With determination, he presses on. And there she is, "asleep on the stove", oblivious to the commotion. He awakens her, and he slips the foot onto her foot! He pulls off the louse-skin cloak to reveal the golden dress. They are married amid much rejoicing. 

From Cox, M. R. (1893/2011) p. 60

Notes: In many countries in Europe, stoves of past times were quite large, ceramic affairs. The fire was kept burning to warm the house, and the spot on the top of the stove was a coveted place of warmth. Many were decorated with tiles or hand painted with fruits or flowers. 

Cinderella #240 Van den Koning en van Jenne Zijn Zoet Liefken (The Story of the King and of Jenny, His True Love".

Deep in the forest, under a mossy bank...

Once upon a time, there was a girl called Sloddeken-vuil. This meant "Little Dirty Slut", and if you think that doesn't sound like a very kind nickname, you are right. It was given to her by her mother and her older sisters, who were not particularly nice people. They made Little Dirty Slut do all of the hard work, One of her chores was to pasture the sheep. Nearly every day Little Dirty Slut tended those sheep, from dawn to dusk. For the most part, she did not mind. The weather always seemed to be fine when  she set out with her flock.  Lest the girl laze the day away dreaming, her mother usually gave her work to carry with her. She always had a tow of flax to spin, and often some embroidery to do as well. One day, when her mother was feeling particularly spiteful, she gave the Dirty Little Slut a "heap of old iron" and told her that if it wasn't polished by nightfall, she would eat no food until the job was done. Little Dirty took one look at the iron, and began to cry. Her mother just laughed, and her sisters actually jumped for joy. Then they left her alone. Dirty sobbed and sobbed until her eyes were red. That's when she heard singing! A band of angels appeared before her and their blinding light polished the old iron clean.  But instead of being pleased when she saw this, Mother was angry. She told Little Dirty Slut that the next day, when she set off with her flock, she would have a new task. A thousand times a thousand kernels of wheat would be scattered among the grass, and if Little Dirty did not gather each and every one, she would not taste food again until she had. So the next morning Dirty got up before dawn, opened the sheep corral, and set off. It was was pretty hard searching for wheat kernels in the predawn light, so she lit a torch. Unfortunately, this only made things worse, and she put it out again, fearing that she would start a forest fire. All day, while the sheep munched grass, Dirty hunted for wheat kernels. By noon, she had found 17. By dusk she had found 438. As night fell, she still only had 512, so she sat down again to cry. That is when the band of angels descends again, turning the darkness into a brilliantly sunny afternoon. Before she could blink, there were two full buckets of wheat kernels before her, and the angels were gone. But instead of being happy, her mother snorted and said, "You could have gathered three bucketfuls." And the next morning, that is what she commanded the Dirty Little Slut to do. As Little Dirty ambled along the road, in no particular hurry to begin her impossible task, she met an old man. He greeted her kindly, and asked whether she might have a bite of bread to spare. Now, Little Dirty Slut never had bread to spare, but she was a gentle hearted girl. The old man had spoken so kindly to her that she without thinking, she drew out the crust of bread her mother had given her for lunch, and gave it to the man. The old one beamed, and drew her "a sheep, which, when tapped, will give her food". So from then on, Little Dirty Slut took out her picture whenever she was hungry, tapped it, and ate to her stomach's content. Life went on in this way for sometime, until, one day, there was news of an exciting event. The prince was hosting a ball, at which he would choose his bride. Of course Little Dirty Slut's mother wouldn't let her go, and of course, her older sisters made her work day and night to sew them new gowns. The day before the ball, as Dirty drove her sheep along the road, she met the same old man as before. Again she gave him her bread, and again, he repaid her kindness by sketching a picture. This one was of a tree. When she tapped it, he promised, "a carriage and eight" would appear! So the next day, when her mother and sisters had left for the ball, Little Dirty took out her picture of a tree and tapped it. Sure enough, a fine carriage and eight horses appeared. So she climbed into the carriage and went to the ball. The prince himself helped her alight, and he danced with her all night. But when the clock began to toll midnight, the girl panicked, and ran away. The king ordered her to halt, and when she would not, gave chase himself. He managed to snatch one of her shoes before she got away, however, and so laid a plan. The very next day he announced that every maiden in the kingdom must come to the palace to try on the shoe. So Little Dirty's mother and sisters join the line. When it is close to their turn, the mother sneaks ahead in line and gets a good look at the shoe. It is tiny, she reports, and the girls will have to trim their feet to fit it. So they take turns with the knife that Mother has so thoughtfully packed. Gritting their teeth against the pain they present themselves to the prince. First one sister and then the other demonstrates that the shoe fits! The prince decides to ask his father which girl he should marry. Before he can summon the King, however, a little bird lands on the windowsill. It sings a cheery tune, then speaks aloud, declaring that there are two bloody liars in the room. So the prince discovers the sisters' trickery, and demands to know if there is not one more sister at home. Of course, there is, and when Little Dirty Slut comes forward, the shoe slides cleanly onto her foot. She and the prince are married at once. 

From Cox, M. R. (1893/2011) p. 

Notes; Again, we find girls willing to cut off their feet for the privelege of being princess. And talk about bitchy sisters! Current mental health practice frowns on nicknames like "Little Dirty Slut" bestowed upon little sisters.