Beauty and the Beast . Once there was a rich man who had a lot of ships . He lived in a big white house by the sea . He had three daughters and three sons . His daughters were all beautiful . But the most beautiful was the youngest daughter , and because she was so beautiful , everyone called her ' Beauty '. Beauty was a kind and clever girl . She loved reading . Her two older sisters were not as nice as Beauty . They were often nasty to her . And they laughed at her , because she loved books . They only liked to wear fine clothes and go to parties . One day there was a terrible storm . All the man ' s ships were lost at sea . Suddenly , he had no money . He had to sell the big white house . The family had to move to a little house in the country . ' I ' m sorry , my dears , ' he told his children . ' We have no money . You will have to work now . ' ' But we don ' t know how to work , Father , ' said the two older sisters . And when they saw their new house , they said , ' We can ' t live here . It ' s too small . ' But Beauty tried hard to be happy . ' Look , Father ! ' she said , ' we ' ve got lots of good clean water . I ' ll clean the house and make some tea . ' Beauty worked hard to help her father and brothers . She got up at four o ' clock every morning and cleaned the house . She made breakfast . Then she washed the clothes and made lunch . Her two sisters stayed in bed late every day . When they got up , they did nothing to help . They just sat and watched Beauty angrily . ' This is a nasty little house , ' they said . ' And it ' s so boring here . Why do you sing when you work , Beauty ? Why are you always happy ? You ' re stupid ! ' One day a letter came for their father . ' I have to go away on business , ' he told his children ' One of my ships has come back . It has come from the East with gold and silver . We are rich again . But I must hurry . ' ' Oh , Father , when you get the gold , please buy us some new dresses ! ' said the two older sisters . ' Yes , my dears , I ' ll try , ' said their father . Then he turned to his youngest daughter . ' And you , Beauty . Would you like something ? ' ' Yes , Beauty . You must have something , ' said the older sisters . ' All right , ' said Beauty . ' I would like a rose . I haven ' t seen a rose for a long , long time . ' The man got on his horse and rode to the sea . But when he arrived , he heard bad news . ' Your gold and silver has gone , ' said his friend . ' And your ship has holes in it . ' ' I have no money to mend my ship , ' said the man sadly . ' So I must leave it . ' Then he remembered his daughters . He looked in his pocket and found a few coins . ' I can ' t buy fine dresses , ' he said , ' but I must buy something for them . ' So he bought two cheap little bags from an old woman . Then he tried to buy a rose for Beauty . But the flower girl did not have any . ' I ' m sorry , ' she said . ' I haven ' t got any roses today . ' The man started to ride home , but soon he was lost in a strange forest . ' Where am I ? ' he said . ' I don ' t remember this forest . ' It began to snow and a strange wind blew . He fell from his horse onto the ground . he heard the loud cries of wolves . He was afraid . ' I don ' t think we will get home tonight , ' he said to his horse . Then , when he looked up again , he saw a light through the trees . ' What ' s that light ? ' he said . ' Is there a house there ? ' The man walked on with his horse . And , at last , they came to a strange palace . ' Hello ! ' he called . But no one answered . His horse walked away from him to the stable and het found something to eat . It was cold and the man was tired . So he went into the palace and found a good hot fire , and a table with food on it . There was one knife , one fork , one plate and one glass . ' Here ' s someone ' s dinner , ' he thought . He waited . But no one came . So at eleven o ' clock , he sat down and ate the food , because he was very hungry . Then he walked upstairs to a bedroom and went to sleep . He slept well and woke up late the next morning . ' Where am I ? ' he thought . Then he remembered . He got up but he could not find his clothes . Then he saw some very fine trousers on a chair . And a very fine shirt , a coat and a beautiful pair of boots . He smelt coffee and saw some breakfast on a table . He drank the coffee , ate the breakfast and looked out at a little garden . ' That ' s strange , ' he thought . ' The sun ' s shining now . But last night there was snow . I think I will go and pick one of those beautiful roses for Beauty before I leave . ' But when he picked the rose , he heard a terrible noise . And he saw a terrible , angry beast . ' what are you doing ? ' it cried . ' I gave you dinner last night . I gave you fine clothes and a good breakfast . Now you come into my secret garden and try to steal my roses . You must die for this ! ' the man fell to the ground . ' Oh , I ' m sorry , ' he cried , ' I just wanted a rose for my youngest daughter . I have three daughters at home , you see . ' The beast looked at him angrily . Then he said , ' All right . Go home to your daughters . But tell them this : I want one of them to come and live here with me . If not , you must return and die . There ' s a box of gold coins in th bedroom . Take it . ' The man rode home , sad and afraid . Then he told his children the terrible news . ' I must go back to the beast ' s palace and die , ' he said . ' I have just come to say goodbye to you all . ' ' Oh , Beauty ! ' cried the older sisters . ' Why did you want a rose , you stupid girl ? ' ' Father , you will not die , ' said Beauty . ' I will go and live with the beast . ' ' No , Beauty . No ! ' cried her brothers . ' We will go and kill the beast ! ' ' You cannot kill him , ' said the man sadly . ' He is much too strong . ' The man was very sad . he forgot all about the box of gold coins . When he went to his room that night , he found it on the table . Then beauty came in to talk to him . ' Is the Beast very ugly , Father ? ' she asked . ' Yes , ' he answered sadly . ' But he can also be very kind . Look ! He gave me this money . Don ' t tell your sisters . They will only want to spend it on clothes . ' Then Beauty said , ' Father , when you were away , two men came here to visit us . My sisters are going to marry them Please give the money to them . They will need it to buy things for their new homes . ' In the morning Beauty said goodbye to her brothers and sisters . She was very sad to leave them . But she did not cry because she was brave and strong . ' I do not know if I will ever see you again , ' she said , ' but I will think of you every day . ' ' Goodbye , dear sister , ' said her brothers . Her older sisters were glad to see her go . But they cut open onion and held it close to their faces , and tears came to their eyes . ' Dear Beauty ! ' they said . ' We are very sad . Must you go ? ' ' Yes , I must , ' Beauty answered quietly . ' It was I who wanted the rose , so I must go . ' Beauty and her father rode all day . At last , they came to the forest . Their horse found the way to the Beast ' s palace . By now it was dark . ' What a strange place ! ' thought Beauty . Once again , The door was open . But when the man called out , there was no answer . They got off their horse and it went to the stable and began eating . ' Go home now , Beauty , ' said her father . ' Get the horse . Leave me and go , before it is too late ! ' ' No , Father , ' she said . ' Come on . Let ' s go in . We are tired and cold , and I can see a nice hot fire . ' Inside they found a table with food on it . This time there were two forks , two knives , two plates and two glasses . Soon they heard a terrible noise . ' What ' s that ? ' cried Beauty . Before her father could answer , the Beast arrived . He wore fine clothes , but he was as strong and hairy as a lion . He walked right up to Beauty and looked at her . She tried to say something , but she couldn ' t . ' So ! This is one of your daughters , ' said the Beast . ' What is her name ? ' ' Her name is Beauty , ' said the man . ' Well , Beauty , ' said the Beast , ' did you come here freely ? ' ' Yes , ' she answered quietly . ' Good ! ' said the beast . ' Do not be afraid . I will not hurt you . Your father can stay tonight , but he must leave in the morning . Eat . Sleep well . Goodnight . ' ' I don ' t think I will sleep tonight , ' said Beauty . ' I am too afraid . ' ' So am I , ' said her father . But they were both very tired . When they lay down , They went to sleep at once . While she was asleep , Beauty had a dream . In her dream a lady came - a good fairy . The fairy smiled at her and said , ' Do not be afraid , Beauty . You are good to come here . You are good to take your father ' s place . And something good will happen to you , because of this . ' In the morning , Beauty told her father about the dream . But he still cried when he had to leave her . When she was alone , Beauty cried too . Then she started to look around the palace . It was a beautiful place , with fine rooms and big windows . Upstairs , she came to a door with the words ' BEAUTY ' S ROOM ' on it . ' What ' s this ? ' she said . ' Beauty ' s Room ? well , if the beast gives me a special room , he does not want to eat me . ' She pushed open the door and went in . What a beautiful room it was ! There were flowers everywhere and cupboards full of fine dresses . But best of all , there were lots and lots of books . She opened and read the words : ' Good , kind Beauty , do not fear , You will be safe and happy here . What you wish , I will do . All of this , I give to you . ' ' He must be a very kind Beast , ' thought Beauty . She put on one of the fine dresses , but she did not see the Beast all day . At nine o ' clock , when she sat down to dinner , the Beast arrived . ' The mirror in your room is a magic mirror , ' he said . ' Look into it when you want to see your father ' s face . ' ' Thank you , ' said Beauty . ' You are very kind . ' ' Tell me , Beauty . Am I ugly ? ' ' Yes , ' she answered . ' Oh ! ' he cried . ' I am ugly ! And I am also stupid , because I cannot think of clever things to say to you . ' Beauty felt sorry for the poor beast . ' I know people who have beautiful faces but who are unkind , ' she said . ' I like you better than those people , Beast . ' ' Then will you marry me ? ' ' Oh , NO ! No . I ' m sorry , but I cannot do that , ' she said . Every night at nine o ' clock the Beast ate dinner with Beauty and they talked . Every night the beast said , ' Will you marry me ? ' And every night Beauty answered , ' I like you very much , but I cannot marry you . ' Beauty was sad when she saw that the poor beast was so unhappy . She felt sorry for him and she knew that he was a kind beast . But he was so ugly ! She did not want to be his wife . Beauty lived at the beast ' s palace for three months and she was quite happy . She read books , played music and walked in the garden . Then , one day , she looked in her magic mirror and saw her father . He was very ill and all alone . ' I must go and see him , ' she thought . ' I ' ll ask the beast tonight . ' Beauty waited all day . At last it was nine o ' clock . She found the beast in the rose garden . They sat down and ate dinner and talked . ' If you will not marry me , then please be my friend , ' said the beast , ' and stay with me always . ' ' I am your friend , ' beauty answered , ' because you are good and kind . I would like to stay here with you . But , Beast . .. I looked in the magic mirror this morning and I saw my father . He is very ill and he is all alone . Please can I go and visit him ? ' ' If you go , you will not come back , ' the Beast said , sadly . ' I will come back , ' said Beauty . ' But please give me one week with my father . Just one week . ' ' All right , ' said the Beast . ' Take this ring . Put it by your bed tonight . Tomorrow you will see your father . But remember to come back to me . I will wait for you . ' Beauty put the ring by her bed . and in the morning she woke up in her father ' s house ! There she found a box of dresses to wear - a present from the Beast . ' Beauty ! ' her father cried , when he saw her . ' Oh , I have been so ill and sad . I am all alone here . Your brothers have gone to be soldiers . Your sisters are married and they never visit me . ' ' Oh , poor Father ! ' cried Beauty . ' I can only stay for one week , but you will soon feel better . ' The poor man was so happy to see his favorite daughter again . Just looking at her made him feel better . ' You look beautiful . ' he said . ' And what a fine dress ! Are you happy with the Beast ? ' ' Yes , ' said Beauty . ' He is a good Beast . He is very kind to me . I have begun to like him , Father . To love him . .. nearly . ' When the older sisters heard that Beauty was home they came to visit her . with their husbands . They were both very unhappy . One sister had a husband who was handsome , but unkind . The other sister ' s husband was very clever , but he talked all the time . He never listened to anyone . When they saw Beauty in her fine dress , they were angry . ' Look at her ! ' they said . ' Why is she always so happy ? Let ' s make the Beast angry with her . Then perhaps he will eat her . Let ' s say that she must stay here more than a week . ' So they said to Beauty . ' Oh Beauty ! Dear Beauty ! We are so happy to see you . Please stay here a little bit longer ! ' And so the week went by , but Beauty did not return to the Beast ' s palace . Ten days went by . Then one night Beauty had a dream . In her dream , she saw the Beast . At first she thought that he was dead . He lay on the grass by a river and he was very unhappy . She heard his voice : ' Beauty ! Beauty ! Why haven ' t you come back to me ? I am dying ! ' She woke up and looked at the moon . She took the ring and put it on the table by her bed . ' I must go back to him , ' she thought . When Beauty woke up , she was back in her room at the Beast ' s palace . She waited all day . At last , it was nine o ' clock . She went down to dinner , but the Beast didn ' t come . ' Oh , something has happened to him ! ' she cried . ' Beast ! Beast ! Where are you ? ' She ran into every room . But she couldn ' t find him . She ran to his secret rose garden , but he wasn ' t there . Then she remembered . ' In my dream , he was outside , on the grass , by a river . ' She ran out of the front door of the palace . ' There ' s the river , over there ! And I can see something on the grass ! ' She ran and found him . he lay on the grass by the river . ' Beast ? ' she cried . ' You ' re not dead , are you ? Please speak to me ! ' The Beast slowly lifted his head and looked at her . ' I waited for you , Beauty , ' he said , ' but you did not come . Now it ' s too late . But I ' m happy to see your face before I die . ' ' No , Beast ! You mustn ‘ t die ! I need you . ' Then Beauty put out her hand and touched him softly . ' I love you , Beast , ' she said quietly . ' I know it now . Please live . I will marry you . ' At that moment something magic happened . Suddenly , the sky was full of strange lights . Beauty looked up at them and she was afraid . The light went away and Beauty looked back at the Beast . But the Beast wasn ' t there . In his place , she saw a handsome prince . ' Where ' s my dear friend the Beast ? ' she asked . ' I am here , Beauty , ' said the handsome prince . ' I am the Beast . Or I was the Beast . A bad fairy put a spell on me . She said that no one could love an ugly Beast . But you have broken that spell . ' Before Beauty could speak , she heard another voice . It was the good fairy from her dream , standing there beside her . ' Yes , Beauty , ' said the fairy . ' You understood that kindness is more important than a beautiful face . It is the most important thing of all . Your older sisters did not understand this . They are not happy with their husband . But you will be happy . ' And Beauty was happy . She and her prince had a wonderful wedding . Her three brothers came and so did her father . ' Oh , dear Father ! ' she said . ' Now you can come and live with me always ! ' But Beauty ' s two older sisters and their husbands did not come . ' I have sent them far away , ' said the good fairy , ' because they were nasty and unkind . they will never find their way to this palace . You will never see them again , until , perhaps , one day . .. if they learn to be kind . ' ' I will wait for that day , ' said Beauty . - The End -