Ashenputtle by the Brothers Grimm: The Original Cinderella Story

Hey ya'll! A few months ago, I got to see the new Cinderella movie, and fell in LOVE with it!! I decided that for the formal this year, I was going as Cinderella in her BEAUTIFUL ballgown.
Anyways, I thought that it would be fun to post the original Cinderella story by the Brothers Grimm, just for a fun thing for my readers. So, I hope you enjoy, and please leave a comment below if you liked it, or if you would want me to put more original Disney Princesses stories up!
Enjoy!

(Abbreviated in my own words from the Sixty Fairytales of The Brothers Grimm by Weathervane Books)

A rich man's wife became ill, and when she knew that her life was ending, she sent or her only child, a young girl, and said to her, "My dear girl, go on being a devoted and kind girl, and God will always help you, and I will be watching you from Heaven."
Soon after, she died.
The girl visited her mother's grave daily, and cried. She kept her promise to her mother of being a devoted and good girl.

When spring came, the girl's father married again. The new Step-mother brought with her her two daughters, who were beautiful to look at, but had selfish hearts. Soon, the girl's life turned around.
They forced her to eat with the servants in the kitchen, and made her wear ugly clothes. They made her work from morning until late at night, doing the dishes, washing their clothes, and carry water in heavy buckets.

They made fun of her, and threw food into the ashes, and had her clean it up. At night, she did not have a bed to sleep in, so she slept by the hearth. The ashes from the fireplace covered her very day, that soon, they called her Ashenputtle.

One day, the Father decided to go to the Fair. He asked his step-daughters what they wanted him to bring back.
"Beautiful clothes." One said
"Jewels." The other one replied.
Turning to Ashenputtle, he asked her what she wanted.
"Bring me the first branch that touches your hat when you return home." She answered.
He returned with the clothes, the jewels, and the twig, from a hazel bush, that had knocked his hat off when he returned home.
Ashenputtle thanked him, and went to visit her mother's grave. There, she planted the twig, then she began to cry. Her tears watered the twig, and it began to grow into a fine tree.

She went to the grave three times each day, crying and praying. Every time, a little, white bird came, and sat on the tree that she had planted, and gave her what she wanted when she made a wish.
It happened that the King sent word that there was to be a ball that would last for three days. All the beautiful maidens in the land were invited, so that the Prince could choose whom he was to marry.

When the sisters heard the news, they called Ashenputtle, and said, "Clean our shoes, and brush our hair. We are going to the King's ball!"
Ashenputtle obeyed, then went to her Step-mother and asked if she could go as well.
"You," the Step-mother said, "You can't go. You're covered in ashes. Besides, you don't have any clothes to wear there, yet you want to go!"
Ashenputtle asked again.

"Well, I threw a bowl of lentils into the ashes. If you pick out each one within two hours, you may go." The Step-mother replied.
Ashenputtle went to the backdoor, and cried,

                                                     "The good into a dish to throw,
                                                      The bad into your crops can go."

Then two, white doves came, who were followed by two turtle doves and all the little birds. They all began to collect the lentils, until every one was in the dish.
Then Ashenputtle brought the dish back to the Step-mother, smiling.
But the Step-mother shook her head, and said, "You still don't have anything to wear. The people will laugh at you."
Ashenputtle began to cry.
"If you can pick out two dishes of lentils within two hours, you may go." The Step-mother said, thinking that it would be impossible for the girl to achieve.
But, again, the girl went to the backdoor, and cried the same thing again.

Once again, the birds arrived, and clean the lentils out of the ashes. Ashenputtle brought the dishes to her Step-mother with a smile. But the Step-mother shook her head again, saying, "No good. You have no clothes, and you can't dance. It would be embarrassing if you came with us."
She then went to help her two daughters.
When everyone left, Ashenputtle went to her mother's grave, and cried,

"Shiver and shake, dear little tree,

Gold and silver shower on me"

The same white bird threw down a beautiful gold and silver robe, with embroidered slippers. Ashenputtle slipped them on, then went to the ball. 

When her step-sisters and their mother saw her, they thought that she was a foreign Princess, instead of Ashenputtle, whom they thought that they left behind.

The Prince fell in love with her, and danced with her all night. She stayed until midnight, then secretly left without anyone knowing where she went. 

For two more nights, Ashenputtle would repeat the same thing every time. But the third night, as midnight struck, while she was leaving. she accidentally left one of her golden slippers that the bird gave her. The Prince, who was following her that night, found her shoe, and kept it with him.
The very next day, he went to Ashenputtle's Father, whom he knew very well, and told him that he would not marry until he found the girl who's foot fit the golden slipper he had found the night before.

The step-sisters were excited, for they both wanted to try on the slipper.
The eldest went with the Prince, and tried on the slipper, but her big toe was too big.  Her mother handed her a knife, and told her to cut it off! ( :( ) She did so, and the slipper fit. The Prince was excited, and took the eldest sister away with him.
But, as they passed Ashenputtle's mother's grave, two doves sat in the hazel-tree and said,

"Prithee, look back, prithee look back,

There's blood on the track,

The shoe is too small, 

At home the true Bride is waiting thy call."

The Prince saw the bleeding toe, and took the eldest back home. The second sister tried on the slipper, but her heel was to large. Her mother handed her a knife, and told her to cut off some of her heel! Ouch! The sister did so, then shoved her foot into the slipper. The Prince was excited once more, and took her away, thinking she was the Bride.

But, as they passed the mother's grave again, the two doves said the same rhyme. The Prince saw the bleeding foot, and took the youngest back home.

He went to the Father, and asked if he had any more daughters. Ashenputtle's father answered yes, but told the Prince that she was puny, the daughter of his late wife and not as beautiful as his step-daughters. The Prince sent for her anyways. Ashenputtle was sent for, and the Prince handed her the golden slipper. She slipped the slipper onto her foot, and looked at the Prince. When she rose, the Prince recognised her as the maiden he met at the ball.

The Prince took Ashenputtle to his palace, and they married happily. The sisters came to Ashenputtle, and asked for her forgiveness, and for their punishment, the two doves pecked one of their eyes out when they stood beside Ashenputtle. When they left, the Doves pecked out the other eye of each sister. They were punished for their wickedness, and were blind forever.


I thought this story was pretty interesting, and I hope that ya'll enjoyed it!

Disney Characters to Jane Austen Characters

Hey ya'll! I've noticed that certain Disney characters are a lot like Jane Austen's characters.
I hope you enjoy this post!

1. Belle and Cathrine Morland. I think that it is funny that they love books more then anything else to do, and it's mostly romances. They both look at the world through their books, and are shocked when the the ones who they love actually show them what the world really is like.

2. Cinderella and Fanny Price. They both are raised in different places then their parents. They both are shy, sweet girls, who dream of their own Prince Charming. They both go through trials with their mean family members, but everything turns out well.

3. Jasmine and Elizabeth Bennet: They are both determined girls, and love life. They both are chosen to marry men they do not love. They both meet the prince of their dreams, yet it takes them a while to truly know them before they decide. (It just took Jasmine a lot quicker to decide, though). :)

4. Anna and Marianne Dashwood: They both dream of their Prince Charming being adorable and reading poems. But, they both are stricken when the ones they love turn their backs on them. But, they both have the one man who loves them, the one who truly cares for the girls'.

5. Elsa and Elinor Dashwood: Both are the oldest sister in the family, and feel like they must keep their young sister safe, (though Elinor has two younger sisters). They both try to keep their emotions controlled, so that life will go through smoothly.

6. Aurora and Jane Bennet: They both are very shy, and are very kind. They dream of having a man to love, but when it comes true, they don't know how to react to it. It frightens them. But in the end, all goes well for both. (Thankfully, Jane didn't fall asleep at the prick of a needle!) :)

Favorite Characters created by Jane Austen

I am a HUGE fan of Jane Austen, thanks to my wonderful Mom. She introduced Jane Austen to me, about the time when she first went to England a few years back. Since then, i have enjoyed her love for Jane Austen.
So I thought that I would introduce you to some of my favorite characters created by Jane Austen.
Enjoy!

First is Cathrine Morland from Northanger Abbey. Cathrine loves to read books, exceptionally Ann Radcliffe's novel The Mysteries of Udolpho. The book enchants her, and she looks at life through it. She ends up in Bath with a family friend couple, Mr. and Mrs. Allen. She meets a young man named Henry Tilney, and he helps her see life as she should, not through a Gothic novel.
I like Cathrine the most of Jane Austen's characters because I can relate to her. Sometimes I look at life through a favorite book, then my family and friends help me see it for what it actually is. I don't, though, have Henry Tilney yet. :)

Next is Eleanor Dashwood from Sense and Senseibility. I love how she is a leader in her family, and guides Marianne, her younger sister, when she is unhappy. She falls in love with the handsome Edward Farrars, for whom she waits for a proposal, yet it takes a while for it to come. But she still waits, and has a good heart.
I love the leadership that she owns, and how she waits patiently for Edward. I try to put that into my life.

Fanny Price from Mansfield Park is next. She is a kind, but shy young girl who is raised by Sir Thomas Bertram. She is disliked by the members of the family, who are related, except for the youngest son, Edmund Bertram, who secretly loves Fanny. She struggles through life, mostly from Henry Crawford, who loves Fanny also.
I like how Fanny, like Eleanor, waits for the man whom she loves, and always has the right heart.

Next is Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. she is a determined woman, who will only marry for love. She meets a gentleman named Mr. Darcy, and dislikes him the first second she sees him. Yet, inside, she begins to be interested in him. She struggles through life, deciding if she should love him, or not.
I like Lizzy, because I also relate to her. She only marries for love, not for riches, or for who is the most good-looking. I also like her humor.

Jane Bennet from Pride and Prejudice, is a very, VERY shy woman. She's beautiful, and graceful, (as her mother boasts), and she is adored by men all around. She meets the young, shy Mr. Bingley, and falls in love with him.
Jane reminds me of Eleanor. she is the eldest, a guide to her younger sister Elizabeth, and is waiting for Mr. Bingley's proposal. I like how she too, is patient in life.

Eleanor Tilney from Northanger Abbey, is a kind, woman, and the sister to Henry Tilney. She is gentle and shy, and becomes one of Cathrine's best friends. She also holds a strong memory of her mother, who had past away years ago, whom she never got to say good-bye to. She also has a secret lover, whom she visits secretly from her stern and mean father, General Tilney.
I like Eleanor, because she still loves her lover, even though he is poor. He does not care for what position he's in, she still cares for him.

Now, of course we cannot leave out the gentlemen of the stories.

Henry Tilney is the gentleman from Northanger Abbey, who makes Cathrine curious about him. He is mysterious, and smart. He loves his father, yet the respect for him has disappeared through the years. Henry loves Cathrine, yet he waits for her to see the world as it should be, not through her novels, which he has read himself.
I like Henry Tilney in the 1987 (Peter Firth) version better then JJ Field, (who reminds me strangely of Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit movie series). I like how Henry is very calm, and respects people, and how he is mysterious around Cathrine.

Edmund Bertram from Mansfield Park. He is kind, and funny. He loves Fanny with all his heart, yet he is curious about the beautiful Mary Crawford. he helps guide his father to kindness towards Fanny also.
I like Edmund because he is always a true friend, and never betrays you.

 Edward Farrars from Sense and Sensibility, is a shy gentleman. He longs to become a clergyman, but is unhappy from a promise that he made long ago that pulls him from Eleanor. He does though, become her friend until he can figure the situation out.
Edward is very kind, yet shy, and that's what I like about him. always the last person you would expect to become a clergyman, and still have a kind heart.

Next is Mr. Bingley from Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Bingley has a funny nature, yet he doesn't mean to at times, which makes him even more funny. He is also, a little shy. He loves Jane with all his heart, yet has a struggle on how to tell her.
I like Mr. Bingley, (better then Mr. Darcy, sorry!) because he is quiet, and doesn't like to make himself the center of attention. He is compassionate and easy going.

And, there are a few other characters that I like,(don't know why, but I just do),

Mr. Wickham, Pride and Prejudice

Lydia Bennet, Pride and Prejudice

Marianne Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility

Colonel Brandon from Sense and Sensibility

Well, there we are. I hope that you enjoyed this.

The Valar: Tolkien's creatures from "The Silmarillion"

The Valar from "The Silmarillion" have always fascinated me, so I decided to write a post about them. The Valar are spirits that Illluvatar created, to help him with Arda.
I hope you enjoy!

Manwe and Melkor, one of the two brethren of the Valar, are brothers in the thought of Iluvatar. Melkor, in his beginning, the mightiest of the Ainur. Manwe was favored by Iluvatar, and understood his ways.

Manwe was the first of all Kings of Arda, (Middle-earth) and rule over all who dwell in Arda. He enjoyed the winds and clouds, and all birds loved him, as he loved them. Sulimo, Lord of the Breath of Arda, was his surname.

Manwe's spouse is Varda, Lady of Stars. Her beauty is too great to be described by all, and Iluvatar's light shines in her face. She is feared from Melkor, after she aided Manwe, and rejected Melkor. She gives farther sight to Manwe when she is by his side. Elbereth, she is named, by the Elves.

Melkor, He who arises in Might, was the brother of Manwe. His name given by the Elves is Morgoth, The Dark Enemy of the World. His power that Iluvatar gave him, he turned to evil. He wanted Arda for his own, and become its king.

The Lord of Waters, is Ulmo, who lives alone, moving always in water around the Earth, or under it. His might is second to Manwe's, and was his closest friend before the creation of Valinor. He loves both Elves and Men, and never leaves them, following them when they sail the Sea. He rules over all the waters, whether it is streams, rivers, fountains, or seas.

Aule rules over the substances of Arda's making. He is a smith, and a crafting master. He taught the Noldor, and he was always their closest friend, which made Melkor jealous. Aule and Melkor fought continuously, Melkor destroying, and Aule fixing.

The spouse of Aule is Yavanna, The Giver of Fruits, She loves all things that grow on the earth, whether threes, birds, flowers, or moss. At times, she takes the shapes of things in the earth. She is next to the Varda, of the Queens of the Valar. In the Eldarin tongue, she is named Kementari, Queen of the Earth.

The Feanturi are the second group of brethren. They are called mostly Mandos and Lorien, but their true names are Namo and Irmo.

Namo is the elder, and lives in Mandos, which is west of Valinor. He is the Doomsman of the Valar, the keeper of the Houses of the Dead. He remembers everything, and he knows when things will happen, except those that Iluvatar keeps secret. 

Vaire, The Weaver, is Namo's spouse. She colors the halls of Mandos with her cloth that she weaves, telling things that have been in Time.

Irmo is the younger brother, and the master of dreams and visions. Lorien, in the land of the Valar, is his gardens, and they are the fairest of places in the world.

Este The Gentle, Irmo's spouse, is the healer of weariness and hurts. She sleeps in the morning on an island, called Lorellin. 

Nienna, the sister of the Feanturi, is mightier then Este. She mourns for every wound that Melkor gave Arda. Her sorrow is so great, that before long to the end, her song turns to lamentation. She does not weep for herself. Her halls are west of West, and she rarely visits Valimar, where there is happiness. She goes to the halls of Mandos instead, and all who wait there cry to her.

Great in strength and prowess is Tulkas Astaldo, The Valiant. He was the last to enter Arda, to help the Valar with the first battles with Melkor. He loves wrestling and contests of strength; and he needs no horse, for he tires not. His weapons are his hands, and he is a hardy friend.

Nessa, the sister of Orome, is Tulkas' spouse. She loves deer, and is lithe and fleet footed. She loves to dance in Valimar, and she can outrun any animal.

Orome, Aldaron, and in the Sindar tongue, Tauron, The Lord of Forests. He is dreadful in anger, but he loves the lands of Middle-earth. To his dismay, he had to leave them. He is a hunter of monsters and beasts, and he loves hounds and horses. Nahar, his horse's name, and The Valaroma is his horn. He would train his people and animals to fight Melkor.

Vana, The Ever-young, is Orome's spouse, and the younger sister of Yavanna. The flowers open when she looks at them, and all the birds sing when she arrives.

The Lords of the Valar:                                                                                  

Manwe                                                                                                                   

Ulmo  

Aule

Orome

Mandos

Lorien

Tulas

The Queens of the Valar:

Varda

Yavanna

Nienna

Este

Vana

Nessa

**Melkor was counted no longer of the Valar**

Stocking Stuffer Ideas from Family Christian #FCBlogger

This is a sponsored post for Family Christian. All opinions are honest and are my own. 

Hey readers! How's your Christmas holidays doing? Do ya'll got your presents bought yet? We're almost there! Our tree already is full of presents.
Speaking of presents, I have some great ideas for Stocking Stuffers this year. 

Family Christian has great new stuff this year, and a lot of it can fit...in a stocking!!!!

For the stocking I did, I bought a traveling cup, a Christmas mug, a bookmark, a pencil, a necklace, gift cards, a stone with a scripture verse, and a Celtic Woman CD. I enjoyed buying these gifts, and one of them I am giving to a special friend named Anita. 

Every year, our church does a Christmas play and Ms. Anita is in full charge of it every year. This year, I am in our new play, "Christmas Reunion." I decided that I wanted to buy Ms. Anita a gift, (the traveling cup), as a thank you present for her hard work. Her husband died a while ago, and this is her first Christmas without him. I wanted to give her a special present, showing her that we all care for her.

And speaking of giving, I'm doing a giveaway for 4 readers to win a $5 certificate to Family Christian.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our stocking tradition is always so much fun. Every Christmas Eve, we set out a plate of cookies and milk for Santa Daddy, and wait for our stockings to be filled. The next morning, we all sit down and open our stockings. It's always fun to watch everyone dig into their stockings.

What is your favorite Christmas Eve tradition? Merry Christmas and God Bless Ya'll!