_Learn not to place faith in fair speeches._
Once upon a time there lived a little girl with her mother on the
edge of a village. Her grandmother lived beyond the woods, and was
a poor old woman, who loved the little girl dearly. She had made
a red cloak for her that looked so pretty every one called her
“Little Red Ridinghood.” One day her mother said:
“I hear your grandmother is ill. You must take her this cake and
a little butter.” Little Red Ridinghood set out at once for her
grandmother’s. On her way she met a big wolf who asked her:
“Where are you going, my little girl?”
“I am going to see my grandmother, and take her this cake and a
little butter,” said Little Red Ridinghood.
“Does she live near here?” asked the wolf.
“Not very far; just on the other side of the wood, in a little
white cottage,” replied Little Red Ridinghood.
The wolf told the little girl good-by and ran off as if he were
going home. But, no, indeed;
“Who is that?” asked a feeble voice.
“This is Little Red Ridinghood come to bring you some cake and a
little butter,” said the wolf.
“Pull the string and the latch will open,” said the grandmother.
The wolf pulled the string and opened the door. Then he jumped on
the old grandmother and ate her up in a minute. He got into bed and
pulled the old woman’s cap over his head.
By and by Little Red Ridinghood knocked at the door. The old wolf
made his voice very feeble and said: “Who is that?”
“I am Little Red Ridinghood, grandmother, and I have brought you
some cake and a little butter.”
“Pull the string and the latch will open,” said the wolf.
Little Red Ridinghood pulled the string and went in and put the
cake and butter on the table. Then she went up to the bed where the
wolf was and when she saw how changed her grandmother was, she said:
“Grandmother, what long arms you have.”
“To hug you the better, my dear,” said the wolf.
“Grandmother, what long ears you have.”
“To hear you the better, my dear,” said the wolf.
“Grandmother, what big eyes you have.”
“To see you the better, my dear,” said the wolf.
“Grandmother, what big teeth you have.”
“The better to eat you, my dear!” With that the wolf fell upon Red
Ridinghood and ate her too.