Once there was a gentleman who married, for his
second wife, the proudest and most haughty
a woman that was ever seen. She had, by a former
husband, two daughters of her own, who were,
indeed, exactly like her in all things. He had
likewise, by another wife, a young daughter, but
of unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her mother, who was the best creature in the world.

No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over but the stepmother began to show herself in her true colors. She could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl, and the less because they made her daughters appear the more odious. She employed her in the meanest work of the house. She scoured the dishes, tables, etc., and cleaned madam’s chamber and those of misses, her daughters. She slept in a sorry
garret, on a wretched straw bed, while her
sisters slept in fine rooms, with floors all inlaid,
on beds of the very newest fashion, and where
they had looking-glasses so large that they could
see themselves at their full length from head to
foot.
Theme two: Wealth doesn’t buy happiness.
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