The wolf began to run as fast as he could, taking the nearest way, and the little girl went by that farthest about, diverting herself in gath¬ering nuts, running after butterflies, and making nosegays of such little flowers as she met with. The wolf was not long before he got to the old woman`s house. He knocked at the door—tap, tap!
“Who`s there?”
“Your grandchild, Little Red Riding-Hood,” replied the wolf, coun-terfeiting her voice, “who has brought you a custard and a little pot of butter, sent you by mamma.”
The good grandmother, who was in bed, because she was somewhat ill, cried out:
Expecting Little Red Riding-Hood
“Pull the bobbin and the latch will go up.” The wolf pulled the bobbin, and the door opened; and then presently he fell upon the good woman and ate her up in a moment, for it was above three days that he had not touched a bit. He then shut the door, and went into the grand¬mother`s bed, expecting Little Red Riding-Hood, who came sometime afterward 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 her grandmother had got a cold and was hoarse, answered:
“ `Tis your grandchild, Little Red Riding-Hood, who has brought you a custard and little pot of butter mamma sends you.”
The wolf cried out to her, 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 her, hiding himself under the bedclothes:
“Put the custard and the little pot of butter upon the stool, and come and lie down with me.”
Little Red Riding-Hood undressed herself and went into bed, when, being greatly amazed to see how her grandmother looked in her night¬clothes, she said to her:
“Grandmamma, what great arms you have got!”
“That is the better to hug thee, my dear!”
“Grandmamma, what great legs you have got!”
“That is to run the better, my child!”
“Grandmamma, what great ears you have got!”
“That is to hear the better, my child!”
“Grandmamma, what great eyes you have got!”
“It is to see the better, my child!”
“Grandmamma, what great teeth you have got!”
“That is to eat thee up!”
And, saying these words, this wicked wolf fell upon Little Red Riding-Hood, and ate her all up.
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