There was once a wife of a rich man who lay sick in bed, just before she died she told her young daughter named Aushenputtel “Be pious and good and God will always take care of you.” The rich man remarried shortly later to a woman with two daughters. Soon after the woman moved into the home she sent Aushenputtel made work as a servant. The stepdaughters were very pretty but underneath their looks they were cruel.
Aushenputtel worked very hard and everyday went to the grave of her mother and wept. Her stepsisters would tease her and make extra work for her to do. While her father was on a trip he brought her back a twig as she requested. This twig grew into a beautiful tree that birds perched in.
When the prince came of age a festival was held ending with a ball each night. Aushenputtel wanted to go but of course her stepmother would not allow it. However, when Aushenputtel persisted her stepmother told her that if she picked up all of the lentils that had been strewn amongst the ashes then she could go but her family left without her anyway. So after her family left Aushenputtel went to the tree and asked for the birds to help her. A beautiful dress of gold and silver with shoes dropped down from the tree. Aushenputtel put on the dress and went to the ball. The prince fell in love with her at first sight. The whole night the prince danced with her and made sure that she was by his side. At the end of the evening she slipped away from the prince into a tree but when the tree was chopped down she was gone. This continued on through the rest of the festival until the last night when the prince had tar put down on the ground so that when Aushenputtel ran away one of her shoes were left behind.
The prince went to Aushenputtel’s father and showed him the tiny delicate shoe. The Prince first gave the shoe to Aushenputtel’s eldest stepsister. She took the shoe into a room and tried it on but it wouldn’t fit. Her mother told her to cut off her toe when she did it fit. The prince began to take her to his castle but on the way he had to pass by Aushenputtel’s mother’s grave. On the grave three little birds perched and sang out that this bride was not the right one and if the prince checked her shoe he would find blood in it.
The prince immediately turned around and brought her back. This time the other stepsister took the shoe and tried it on. Again it didn’t fit but this time her mother told her to cut off a peace of her heel. The prince again passed the gravestone of Aushenputtel’s mother. The three little birds again sang out that he had the wrong bride and if he checked her shoe he would find blood in it.
The prince returned to the house and asked if there was anyone else who could try on the shoe. They said there was no other but the Cinderella that was by the hearth. The prince insisted on seeing her. The shoe fit Aushenputtel perfectly. The prince took the girl with him. At their wedding Aushenputtel’s stepsisters tried to join in but the little birds pecked their eyes out for the evil they had done.
