Let us turn again to the realm of fancy, to fairyland, where we all
once wandered. Who of us has not feared and trembled for Little Red
Riding-Hood; who has not cordially detested the wolf, and wished to
warn her against his wiles? The mixture of trust in the wolf and of
doubt in her own judgment has in our picture been charmingly expressed
by the painter. This is one of those pictures which have the merit
of containing an idea which throws a new light on the story which it
illustrates. Every child who has read the adventures of Little Red
Riding-Hood has wondered why she felt no fear at the first appearance
of the wolf. It was because he had the wit, as the picture clearly
shows, to disguise his nature and, with all his cunning, to show
nothing but his natural likeness to a big and friendly dog, in which it
is quite easy for a child to trust, as in a playfellow rather than an
enemy.
[Illustration: "LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD."
_From the Painting by Hiddeman._