It began to strike twelve--one, two, three.

Cinderella ran from the room.

Down the steps of the palace she flew.

She ran so fast that she lost one of her little glass slippers.

The clock finished striking.

Lo! the coach turned into a pumpkin.

The horses and men turned into mice.

Poor Cinderella had to walk home in her ragged clothes.

The next morning the prince found Cinderella's little glass slipper on
the stairs.

"There is only one maiden in all the world who can wear so tiny a
slipper," said the prince. "I will marry her and no other."

The prince hunted far and wide for a maiden who could put it on. Many
tried, but none could do it.

At last he came to the house where Cinderella lived. The two older
sisters tried and tried to put the slipper on their large feet.

While the prince was waiting, Cinderella came into the room.