00:37What you are about to see are stories from South America and Africa, which will remind
00:43you of the well-known story of Cinderella.
00:46These are Cinderella stories because the main character is mistreated by her step-family,
00:51but finds happiness and love with a little magical help and a dropped shoe.
00:55Our first tale, Maria Cinderella, comes from Chile in South America.
01:11Here you go!
01:14Long ago on a farm in Chile, there lived a young girl named Maria.
01:20Maria's father had died, so she lived there with her step-mother and step-sister, Sophia.
01:26While Maria worked every day from dawn to dusk, Sophia simply played all day.
01:33Sophia was spoiled and very jealous of Maria, so whenever Maria was happy, Sophia would complain
01:40to her mother.
01:40Maria, you are wasting time.
01:43Come here.
01:44But step-mother, I was only doing my chores.
01:47Be quiet and take care of the real work around here.
01:50It seemed that no matter how hard Maria worked, there was always more work to do.
01:58You're so slow with the cleaning, Maria.
02:01Maybe you should spend time with the animals.
02:03They're as dirty as you.
02:06And every time Sophia was jealous, Maria would be punished with even more work.
02:13As time went by, taking care of the llamas became Maria's favorite task.
02:18One baby llama was very special to Maria.
02:22His mother had died, so Maria adopted him.
02:25She fed him milk and food to help him grow strong.
02:28Would you like to wear a necklace of your own?
02:33So, Maria is playing with the llamas, hmm?
02:36You run and play.
02:38I'll have a talk with Maria.
02:40Because Sophia was jealous, Maria had to leave her llamas and go to the stream and wash the
02:46family's clothes.
02:49Maria was not happy.
02:55Oh, no.
02:56The clothes.
02:57I have to find them.
03:00Maria knew that if she didn't come home with the family's clothes, she would be in terrible
03:04trouble.
03:05So, she set off to find them.
03:10Hello?
03:11Is anyone home?
03:14Hello, honey.
03:16Are you lost?
03:18Maria told the lady her story.
03:20How she was washing her family's clothes.
03:22How the wind came up.
03:24And how the clothes blew away in every direction.
03:28And then I started to look for them.
03:30But I found you instead.
03:31Yes, I see.
03:34Maybe I can help you.
03:36But I'm on my way to church.
03:39Do you think you could watch my children and clean my house for me?
03:43Maria agreed to take care of the children and to clean the house.
03:51She did that and more.
03:53So when the lady returned, she was very pleased.
03:56Wonderful.
03:58I'm going to give you something for doing all this work.
04:02Take these new clothes, Maria.
04:04And I have something else for you.
04:08This is a magic wand.
04:11Ah!
04:13On her way home, Maria was to follow some secret instructions.
04:17When you hear a burrow bray, look down to the ground.
04:23And when a cock crows, look up to heaven.
04:27Maria followed the secret instructions.
04:29And when she did, a beautiful star fell from the heavens and perched on her forehead.
04:40When Maria returned home with a glittering star, her stepmother got very angry.
04:45So angry, so angry that she wrapped a rag around Maria's head to hide the star's beauty.
04:52Sophia wanted a star just like Maria's.
04:55So she made her mother give her clothes to wash at the stream, too.
04:59She did everything Maria had done.
05:01She lost the clothes, followed the stream, then found the house.
05:08But Sophia knew nothing about cleaning a house or taking care of children.
05:15Well, I see somebody has been busy.
05:20Sophia, I have a surprise for you.
05:24And I have some special instructions.
05:28When the cock crows, look down on the ground.
05:32And when the burrow brays, look up at the sky.
05:36So Sophia headed home.
05:39She was determined to follow the secret instructions.
05:42And she did.
05:43But instead of being covered with starlight,
05:46Sophia found herself covered with mud.
05:59Maria, bring me that new silk scarf.
06:01Hurry.
06:02There.
06:03You look beautiful, Sophia.
06:05Come now.
06:07Oh, I wish I were going, too.
06:09Oh, my.
06:12Imagine Maria at church with her smudged face and tattered dress.
06:16You stay here.
06:20Remembering her magic wand, Maria quickly transformed herself into a princess.
06:25With a fine new dress to wear to church and a fine horse and carriage.
06:30And off to church she went.
06:34No one at the church recognized Maria.
06:37Not even her stepmother or Sophia.
06:41Maria looked so lovely that a prince decided he wanted to marry her.
06:45It was love at first sight.
06:48But it was getting late.
06:50And Maria had to rush home before her stepmother and Sophia.
06:54Maria was in such a hurry that she lost one of her golden slippers.
06:57I must find that lovely young woman.
07:00I won't rest until I do.
07:03When Maria returned home, poof, she changed everything back to normal.
07:08Her stepmother and Sophia didn't even notice her.
07:11All they talked about was the princess they had seen in church that day.
07:15Did you see the prince in church today?
07:17How about that woman?
07:18Who was she?
07:23We cannot have you here sweeping when the prince arrives.
07:28I am seeking the owner of this golden slipper to be my bride.
07:32Might she live here?
07:33Because the golden slipper fit Sophia's foot so well,
07:37the prince thought Sophia was the princess he had seen in church that day.
07:42The prince was about to make a very big mistake
07:44when suddenly Maria's magic star gave the baby Lana the power to speak.
07:50Not Sophia.
07:52Maria is the one.
07:53Maria?
07:55Who is Maria?
07:57I'm looking for the owner of this golden slipper.
08:00Her name is Maria.
08:02Are you Maria?
08:06Maria?
08:07You've always been my favorite daughter.
08:09Remember how I let you play with the lavas?
08:12So the prince found his bride and Maria found Prince Charming.
08:18And so the prince and Maria lived happily ever after.
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