Long ago in Italy, in a small village called Baselice, there lived three daughters. They were named Clementina, Zietta, and ZiaMenna. Their parents passed away, and the three girls lived alone on their own.
Zietta and ZiaMenna were hard on Clementina. She washed the clothes, did the dishes, and was a servant in her own home, waiting on her two sisters. She served them breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The sisters were very religious. They would always go to church on Saturday and Sunday, but they would leave Clementaina behind. She was told that she could not go because she did not have any good clothes, just rags. When the two older sisters went anywhere, Clementina had to stay home and do her chores.
When the sisters left her alone and she had finished her chores, she would talk to the animals so she wouldn't be bored.
One day all three sisters received an invitation to a grand Italian ball. As usual, Clementina was told she could not go because all she had to wear were rags. The older sisters laughed at her as they left in their beautiful clothes to attend the ball. Clementina was so angry and hurt that she began to cry.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Clementina's godmother appeared and granted her a blue dress, had her hair down up, and gave her glass sandals. Her godmother gave Clementina a chariot and five horses to take her to the ball.
When she arrived at the ball she was the most beautiful maid there. A young gentleman asked her to dance. His name was Michael. He was very handsome and Clementina really liked him. As they were dancing, the prince pulled Clementina away to dance with him. Michael felt sad. The prince whisked Clementina away to the courtyard and asked her immediately to marry him, but he had been drinking wine and rum. He was loud and rude! Clementina told the prince that she would not marry him.
She quickly ran away from the prince and as he was chasing her she lost a glass sandal. The prince stumbled over it. Michael picked it up and held it carefully. Clementina was very grateful that Michael was considerate enough to pick up her sandal. He asked her to marry him and she gladly accepted.
The sisters, recognizing Clementina, ran over and realized that they had treated Clementina cruelly. They apologized and Clementina forgave them. She married Michael and moved far away to America. They had three children: Michael, Jr., Maria, and Michelle.
And they lived happily ever after!