Clifton Johnson

The Little Red Hen and the Wheat

O NCE there was a little red hen, and she found a grain of wheat in the barnyard and said, "Who will plant this wheat?"

"I won't," says the dog.

"I won't," says the cat.

"I won't," says the goose.

"I won't," says the turkey.

"I will, then," says the little red hen. "Ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-daa-cut!"

So she planted the grain of wheat. Pretty soon the wheat began to grow and the green leaves came up out of the ground. The sun shone and the rain fell and the wheat kept on growing until it was a tall, strong stalk and had a big head of ripe grain at the top.

"Who will reap this wheat?" says the little red hen.

"I won't," says the dog.

"I won't," says the cat.

"I won't," says the goose.

"I won't," says the turkey.

"I will, then," says the little red hen. "Ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-daa-cut!"

So she reaped the wheat.

"Who will thresh this wheat?" says the little red hen.

"I won't," says the dog.

"I won't," says the cat.

"I won't," says the goose.

"I won't," says the turkey.

"I will, then," says the little red hen. "Ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-daa-cut!"

So she threshed the wheat.

"Who will take this wheat to mill to have it ground?" says the little red hen.

"I won't," says the dog.

"I won't," says the cat.

"I won't," says the goose.

"I won't," says the turkey.

"I will, then," says the little red hen. "Ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-daa-cut!"

So she took the wheat to mill, and by and by she came back with the flour.

"Who will bake this flour?" says the little red hen.

"I won't," says the dog.

"I won't," says the cat.

"I won't," says the goose.

"I won't," says the turkey.

"I will, then," says the little red hen. "Ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-daa-cut!"

So she baked the flour and made a loaf of bread.

"Who will eat this bread?" says the little red hen.

"I will," says the dog.

"I will," says the cat.

"I will," says the goose.

"I will," says the turkey.

"I  will," says the little red hen. "Ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-daa-cut!" and she ate the loaf of bread all up.