The Two Step-Sisters
Reading Level: 9+ Number of Pages: 2 Genre: Classic Fairy-tale
Summary: There once were two step-sisters. One was good and the other was bad. The stepmother loved the bad one more than the good, and would make her do chores. One day the stepmother asked her daughter (the bad one) to draw some water. Since she didn't want to, the stepmother told the good sister to go. When she reached the well and lowered the bucket, the rope snapped and the bucket fell. The good girl was upset for she was afraid of what would happen to her if she returned home without the bucket, so she descended into the well to search for it. When she came to the bottom she met a Madonna who lived there. "Have you seen a rope and bucket?" she asked the woman. "Yes, I have," was the reply. "If you wish I will give it you, but first you must stay behind and tend my household. Give my child his broth and sweep my floor and I will return you your bucket." The girl did as she was told, and as she swept she found that the dust was turned into beautiful corals and precious stones. These she set aside to give to the Madonna when she returned.
When the Madonna returned the girl offered her the corals and stones, but the Woman let her keep them, stowing them inside her bucket. "As a token of my thanks," said the woman, "would you receive as payment a calico dress or a silk dress?" "Oh, the calico," said the girl. The woman gave her the silk. "and would you receive a silver thimble or a brass thimble?" "Oh, I cannot accept more than the brass!" The woman gave her the silver. Then the woman instructed her to look upward into heaven as she ascended from the well. This she did, and a star came down and alighted on her brow, causing her visage to sparkle and shine. Her stepmother and sister were angry when she returned, and were jealous of the riches the good sister had received. So the stepmother sent the bad sister on the same errand.
When the bad sister met the Madonna she was given the same charge, but instead of feeding the Woman's child she ate the broth herself, and when she swept she did so lazily, and in doing so found no corals nor precious stones. When the Madonna came back, she asked whether she would have a silk dress or a calico.
"Oh, silk!" She was given the calico. She was then asked whether she would have a brass or silver thimble.
"Oh, silver!" She was given the brass thimble.
Then the woman told her to look up into heaven as she ascended from the well. This she did, but as she looked up a great clump of dirt fell onto her face, which remained there and could not be washed off.
My Impressions: I think the story reinforces the idea of how we should inwardly be good and virtuous and honest. I think it is almost a cinderella story, but has a uniqueness about it.
Parent's Guide: none.
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