I haven’t read this book but my girlfriend never forgot about this book and only read it once in first grade. If that doesn’t say something about this book then nothing does.
I didn't so much see this book as a lesson in hard work but rather as a lesson in what happens when you don't help someone. You lose everything! They lost her because she was not appreciated and she found someone who loved what she was doing for them. This is the lesson, I think. I enjoyed this.
Enjoyed on openlibrary.org (scanned copy free to read online). Funny seeing the sisters wearing make-up, eating chocolate, etc. One of my very favorite endings, too. Of course the lazy ones get no pie, but neither does the hero eat it all herself. Instead... well, read and find out!