First Sentence

"THERE are but few among those inhabitants of Fairyland of whom 'Popular Tales' tells, who are better known to the outer world than Cinderella-the despised and flouted younger sister, who long sits unnoticed beside the hearth, then furtively visits the glittering halls of the great and gay, and at last is transferred from her obscure nook to the place of honour justly due to her tardily acknowledged merits."