Horace Elisha Scudder

Little Red Riding-Hood

Once upon a time there lived in a certain village a little country girl, the prettiest creature ever seen. Her mother was very fond of her and her grandmother doted on her even more. This good old woman had made for her a little red riding-hood, which became the girl so extremely well that everybody called her Little Red Riding-Hood.

One day her mother, having made some custards, said to her, "Go, my dear, and see how thy grandmamma does, for I hear she has been very ill; carry her a custard and a little pot of butter." Little Red Riding-Hood set out at once to go to her grandmother, who lived in another village. As she was going through the wood she met Gaffer Wolf, who had a very great mind to eat her up, but durst not because of some fagot-makers hard by in the forest.

He asked her whither she was going. The poor child, who did not know it was dangerous to stay and hear a wolf talk, said to him, "I am going to see my grandmamma, and carry her a custard and a little pot of butter from my mother."

"Does she live far off?" asked the wolf.

"Oh, yes," said 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 will go and see her too. I will go this way, and go you that, and we shall see who will be there soonest."

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 gathering 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 is there?"

"Your grandchild, Little Red Riding-Hood," replied the wolf, counterfeiting her voice; "who has brought you a custard and a little pot of butter sent you by my mamma."

The good grandmother, who was in bed because she was ill, cried out:—

"Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up."

The wolf pulled the bobbin, and the door opened, and in jumped the wolf, who fell upon the good woman and ate her up in a moment, as he had not tasted food for three days. He then shut the door, and got into the grandmother's bed, expecting Little Red Riding-Hood, who came some time after, and knocked at the door—tap, tap.

"Who is there?"

Little Red Riding-Hood, hearing the big voice of the wolf, was at first afraid, but, believing her grandmother had a cold, and was hoarse, answered:—

"It is your grandchild, Little Red Riding-Hood, who has brought you a custard and a little pot of butter which 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 by me."

Little Red Riding-Hood undressed herself and got into bed, where being greatly amazed to see how her grandmother looked in her night-clothes, 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 poor Little Red Riding-Hood, and ate her all up.