o gather a nosegay of wild flowers
for her grandmother, and the wolf, who had thought of a plan to get the
little girl for his dinner, said "Good morning," and trotted away.

[Illustration]

As soon as he was out of sight, he began to run as fast as he could. In
a short time he reached the grandmother's cottage and knocked at the
door.

"Who is there?" asked the old grandmother, as she lay in bed.

"It is Little Red Riding-Hood," answered the wolf. "I have brought you
some butter and eggs and a fresh-baked cake which mother has made for
you."

"Pull the bobbin and the latch will go up," said the old grandmother. So
the wolf pulled the bobbin and opened the door, and sprang upon the poor
old grandmother and ate her all up in a twinkling.

Then he put on her night-cap and got into bed, and lay down to wait for
Red Riding-Hood.

Very soon there came a little soft tap at the door.

"Who is there?" called out the wolf.

"It is Little Red Riding-Hood, grandmother dear. I have brought you some
butter and eggs and a fresh-baked cake which mother has made for you."

Then the wolf called out, disguising his voice as much as he could:

"Pull the bobbin and the latch will go up." So Little Red Riding-Hood
pulled the bobbin and went inside.

[Illustration]

"Good morning, dear grandmother," she said. "How are you feeling today?"

"Very bad indeed, my dear," answered the wolf, trying to hide himself
under the bedclothes.

"How strange and hoarse your voice sounds, grandmother," said the little
girl.

"I have got a bad cold, my dear," said the wicked wolf.

"Grandmother, what very bright eyes you have!" went on Red Riding-Hood,
surprised to see how strange her grandmother looked in her nightclothes.

"The better to see you with, my dear," said the wolf.

"Grandmother, what very big ears you have!"

"The better to hear you with, my child."

"Grandmother, what very long arms you have!"

"The better to hug you with, my dear."

"But, grandmother, what great big teeth you have," said Red Riding-Hood,
who was beginning to get frightened.

"The better to eat you with," roared the wolf, suddenly jumping out of
bed. He seized hold of poor Little Red Riding-Hood, and was just about
to eat her up, when there was a great noise outside, and the door burst
open and in rushed the wood-cutters, who had seen the wolf talking to
the little girl in the wood, and came to see what mischief he was up to.

They killed the wic