Lisa M. Ripperton

NE DAY as the Little Red Hen was scratching in a field, she found a grain of wheat.

"This wheat should be planted," she said. "Who will plant this grain of wheat?"

        "Not I," said the Duck.

        "Not I," said the Cat.

        "Not I," said the Dog.

"Then I will," said the Little Red Hen. And she did.

Soon the wheat grew to be tall and yellow.

"The wheat is ripe," said the Little Red Hen. "Who will cut the wheat?"

        "Not I," said the Duck.

        "Not I," said the Cat.

        "Not I," said the Dog.

"Then I will," said the Little Red Hen. And she did.

When the wheat was cut, the Little Red Hen said, "Who will thresh this wheat?"

        "Not I," said the Duck.

        "Not I," said the Cat.

        "Not I," said the Dog.

"Then I will," said the Little Red Hen. And she did.

When the wheat was all threshed, the Little Red Hen said, "Who'll take this wheat to the mill?"

        "Not I," said the Duck.

        "Not I," said the Cat.

        "Not I," said the Dog.

"Then I will," said the Little Red Hen. And she did.

She took the wheat to the mill and had it ground into flour. Then she said, "Who will make this flour into bread?"

        "Not I," said the Duck.

        "Not I," said the Cat.

        "Not I," said the Dog.

"Then I will," said the Little Red Hen. And she did.

She made and baked the bread. Then she said, "Who will eat this bread?"

        "Oh! I will," said the Duck.

        "And I will," said the Cat.

        "And I will," said the Dog.

"No, no!" said the Little Red Hen. "I will do that." And she did.