Ella's Jewel

Beyond the hills and beneath the trees,

There lived a little family of three.

A lovely mother, little daughter, and caring father.

Love was abundant as one could see

They really were the happiest family.

Then one day little Ella was out to play

Unaware of what tragedy would befall that day.

Her mother became ill and their grief became great

As Ella rushed in, it was all but too late.

Her mother took Ella’s hand and placed in in hers

And gave little Ella the stone of her birth.

As Ella looked up with tear-filled eyes,

She looked up to her mother and inquired why.

“My dearest Ella,” she began,

“This is a jewel most prized in the land,”

“You must take it and treasure it near,”

“For it will assist you in your greatest time of fear.”

With those words spoken, the mother rested her head,

“I love you dear Ella,” was her last words said.

Years passed and Ella grew,

But near to her heart she kept that jewel.

Her father was sent on a trip far away,

And Ella thought perhaps her greatest fear would be today.

When he returned he brought with him

A new wife and two daughters with mean ugly grins.

A fear grew in Ella as she watched the procession

To her father she needed to ask a question.

“Oh father what have you done?”

“Was living alone with me not too fun?”

Her father replied, “Ella it is my duty to pay off our debts”

“Without your new mother, our dues would not be met.”

“I understand dear father...” Ella began to say,

But before she knew it, her father took ill and passed away.

If Ella did not know fear before, she sure did now,

Now before her step-mother and sisters, she was expected to bow.

She became their servant and swept and cleaned,

To poor little Ella they were quite mean.

Ella was strong and Ella was sure,

And so their snarky comments met no allure.

Then one day there came a knock on the door,

It was an invitation to the grand ball and to attend Ella did implore.

“We shall see,” began the mean step-mother.

“Your chores must be done before half past three.”

“Oh they will be!” Ella cried.

Ella would not let her invitation to the ball be denied.

For weeks on end Ella repaired her mother’s dress.

The great beauty of Ella in her dress caused her stepmother to be in distress.

The stepsisters snuck into Ella’s chamber

And by destroying the dress they thought would turn the Prince to their favor.

When Ella caught sight of her mangled dress,

She ran to the garden and wept and wept.

The sisters got ready for the ball and did then depart,

While Ella wept in the garden still sad of heart.

A fairy godmother did then appear,

“Oh don’t cry, you will go to the ball Ella dear!”

And before she knew it she had a brand-new dress.

To the fairy godmother Ella did thank and bless.

The dress was blue with matching glass slippers

To Ella’s delight her dress in the moonlight did glimmer.

She rushed to the ball and was let in,

She got there just in time for the dancing to begin.

As Ella entered they were in awe,

For none of them had seen such a beauty unflawed.

Her immense beauty caught the prince’s eye

And through the crowd he did pass by.

It was like a force drew the crowd,

When the price stepped up to Ella proud.

“Will you dance with me?” the Prince inquired.

But Ella’s feet were much too tired.

Through a bit of consideration, she then consented

And she and the prince seemed more than contented.

They danced and they danced across the floor

And no one had seen a sight like this before.

Love at first sight? Nobody knew.

Not even the King had a clue.

Ella’s feet started to ache

For her glass slippers seemed a big mistake.

They were much too big and slipped and slid,

But Ella was having the most splendid time and so the pain of her feet she hid.

Then through the crowd she caught a glimpse of her step-mother

And Ella in fear ran out of there like no other.

The Prince ran after her and inquired where she was going,

But who she really was Ella was afraid of showing.

As she ran down the steps,

Her rather large slippers caused her to misstep.

One glass slipper she left behind,

Perhaps she would get in back in time.

Back she did not look, but forward she ran.

She tripped and fell to the ground and to cry she began.

She could not move for her feet were so swollen,

The night was so chilled she began to be frozen.

Little did Ella know, her greatest fear soon did show.

And the jewel from her mother began to glow.

She took the jewel and held it close

The whereabouts of Ella the prince came to know.

He followed the light on that cold night.

The prince found Ella lying there

He took her back to the castle to receive much care.

Ella was quite sick for days on end,

But her growing feelings for the Prince she could not pretend.

The prince never left her side

And his feelings as well could not be denied.

Months passed and Ella was now well,

This called for a great celebration and much it would entail.

The prince and Ella soon were married

And all of Ella’s fears were now deeply buried.

The jewel form her mother soon became

A symbol of their love that was aflame.