Little Red Riding Hood

Once upon a time there lived in a certain village a little country boy, the prettiest creature who was ever seen. His father was excessively fond of him; and his grandfather doted on him still more. This good man had a little red riding hood made for him. It suited the boy so extremely well that everybody called him Little Red Riding Hood.

One day his father, having made some cakes, said to him, "Go, my dear, and see how your grandfather is doing, for I hear she has been very ill. Take her a cake, and this little pot of butter."

Little Red Riding Hood set out immediately to go to his grandfather, who lived in another village.

As he was going through the wood, he met with a wolf, who had a very great mind to eat him up, but she dared not, because of some woodcutters working nearby in the forest. She asked him where he was going. The poor child, who did not know that it was dangerous to stay and talk to a wolf, said to her, "I am going to see my grandfather and carry him a cake and a little pot of butter from my mother."

"Does he live far off?" said the wolf

"Oh I say," answered Little Red Riding Hood; "it is beyond that mill you see there, at the first house in the village."

"Well," said the wolf, "and I'll go and see him too. I'll go this way and go you that, and we shall see who will be there first."

The wolf ran as fast as he could, taking the shortest path, and the little boy took a roundabout way, entertaining himself by gathering nuts, running after butterflies, and gathering bouquets of little flowers. It was not long before the wolf arrived at the old man's house. She knocked at the door: tap, tap.

"Who's there?"

"Your grandchild, Little Red Riding Hood," replied the wolf, counterfeiting his voice; "who has brought you a cake and a little pot of butter sent you by father."

The good grandfather, who was in bed, because she was somewhat ill, cried out, "Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up."

The wolf pulled the bobbin, and the door opened, and then she immediately fell upon the good man and ate her up in a moment, for it been more than three days since she had eaten. She then shut the door and got into the grandfather's bed, expecting Little Red Riding Hood, who came some time afterwards and knocked at the door: tap, tap.

"Who's there?"

Little Red Riding Hood, hearing the big voice of the wolf, was at first afraid; but believing his grandfather had a cold and was hoarse, answered, "It is your grandchild Little Red Riding Hood, who has brought you a cake and a little pot of butter father sends you."

The wolf cried out to him, softening his voice as much as he could, "Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up."

Little Red Riding Hood pulled the bobbin, and the door opened.

The wolf, seeing her come in, said to him, hiding herself under the bedclothes, "Put the cake and the little pot of butter upon the stool, and come get into bed with me."

Little Red Riding Hood took off his clothes and got into bed. He was greatly amazed to see how his grandfather looked in his nightclothes, and said to him, "Grandfather, what big arms you have!"

"All the better to hug you with, my dear."

"Grandfather, what big legs you have!"

"All the better to run with, my child."

"Grandfather, what big ears you have!"

"All the better to hear with, my child."

"Grandfather, what big eyes you have!"

"All the better to see with, my child."

"Grandfather, what big teeth you have got!"

"All the better to eat you up with."

And, saying these words, this wicked wolf fell upon Little Red Riding Hood, and ate him all up.

Moral: Children, especially attractive, well bred young men, should never talk to strangers, for if they should do so, they may well provide dinner for a wolf. I say "wolf," but there are various kinds of wolves. There are also those who are charming, quiet, polite, unassuming, complacent, and sweet, who pursue young women at home and in the streets. And unfortunately, it is these gentle wolves who are the most dangerous ones of all. 

—The End—