"Good-by, little one," said Mrs. White Paw, the goat, to her
daughter.
"Do not go, mother, I am afraid to stay here alone," cried little
Nanny.
"But I must get my dinner or you will have no milk for your
supper," said her mother.
"There is nothing to fear but the prowling wolf. Bar the door when
I am gone; then he can not get in. Do not open the door unless you
hear this password, 'Cursed be the wolf and all his race!'"
The mother, as she trotted away, felt no fear for her little
daughter's safety. "No one knows that password but myself," she
said; "but I shall be very glad when Nanny is old enough to go out
with me to dine on the green hill. She is lonely when I am gone."
Little Nanny was not as safe as the mother thought, for slinking
in the bushes near Mrs. White Paw's home was the hateful wolf. He
heard the password which the mother gave to her little one, and
laughed at the thought of the good feast which he should have by
and by.
After the mother had been away for some time, the wolf sneaked to
the door of the little house. He knocked, and gave the password,
"Cursed be the wolf and all his race." in a voice much like that
of Mrs. White Paw.
Nanny started to open the door, thinking that her mother had come
home; but she stopped, for the voice had not sounded quite like
her mother's voice. "I will make sure that it is no one but my
mother," she said to herself. So she called, "Mother, show me your
white paw before I open the door."
The wolf was angry, for he had no white paw to show. He gave a
long, angry howl and went away.
The mother heard the howl as she turned her face homeward. "That
will frighten Nanny," she said, and she hurried home. On reaching
the house, she knocked and called in a cheery voice, "Cursed be
the wolf and all his race."
Nanny did not open the door at once. She called back, "Show me
your white paw, mother."
Mrs. White Paw put her paw to the crack in the door, and the door
flew open.
"Why did you not let me in as soon as I gave the password, Nanny?"
asked her mother.
Nanny told her of the wolf's visit. Mrs. White Paw was very proud
of her wise daughter.
"Now have your supper, my brave Nanny, and go to bed. How glad I
am that you are safe!" said the happy mother.