Part 1 (2/2)

While Little Red Riding-Hood was at play in the wood, the great wolf galloped on as fast as he could to the old woman's house. Grandmother lived all by herself, but once or twice a-day a neighbour's child came to tidy her house and get her food. Now, grandmother was very feeble, and often kept her bed; and it happened that she was in bed the day Little Red Riding-Hood went to see her. When the wolf reached the cottage door he tapped.

”Who is there?” asked the old dame.

”Little Red Riding-Hood, granny,” said the wolf, trying to speak like the child.

”Come in, my dear,” said the old lady, who was a little deaf. ”Pull the string and the latch will come up.”

The wolf did as she told him, went in, and you may think how frightened poor grandmother was when she saw him standing by her bed instead of Little Red Riding-Hood.

_RED RIDING-HOOD AT THE DOOR._

Very soon the wolf, who was quite hungry after his run, eat up poor grandmother. Indeed, she was not enough for his breakfast, and so he thought he would like to eat sweet Red Riding-Hood also. Therefore he dressed himself in granny's nightcap and got into bed, and waited for the child to knock at the door. But he waited a long time.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE WOLF AT THE GRANDMOTHER'S COTTAGE.]

By and by Little Red Riding-Hood reached her grandmother's house, and tapped at the door.

[Ill.u.s.tration: RED RIDING HOOD AT HER GRANDMOTHER'S DOOR.]

”Come in,” said the wolf, in a squeaking voice. ”Pull the string, and the latch will come up.”

Red Riding-Hood thought grandmother must have a cold, she spoke so hoa.r.s.ely; but she went in at once, and there lay her granny, as she thought, in bed.

”If you please, grandmamma, mother sends you some b.u.t.ter and eggs,” she said.

”Come here, dear,” said the wicked wolf, ”and let me kiss you,” and Red Riding-Hood obeyed.

_THE WOLF AND THE CHILD._

But when Red Riding-Hood saw the wolf she felt frightened. She had nearly forgotten grandmother, but she did not think she had been so ugly.

”Grandmamma,” she said, ”what a great nose you have.”

”All the better to smell with, my dear,” said the wolf.

”And, grandmamma, what large ears you have.”

”All the better to hear with, my dear.”

”Ah! grandmamma, and what large eyes you have.”

”All the better to see with, my dear,” said the wolf, showing his teeth, for he longed to eat the child up.

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