ONCE THERE WAS a rich man's wife who died leaving behind a daughter. Within a year the widowed man had taken another bride. She was a haughty woman, proud and vain, with two daughters whoÝ resembled her in every way.

In truth, the trio had little to be vain about, being sour-faced and sour-tempered. Although they bickered constantly with each other the three did agree on one point: they loathed the rich man's daughter. She was so beautiful and sweet natured that her radiance put them all in the shade. To make matters worse, the older she grew the more beautiful she became. To dim her light a little they took away her pretty dresses, put her to work at the heaviest and most menial tasks and made her sleep on the kitchen hearth. As she scrubbed and scoured the stepsisters took a malicious delight in tormenting her.