tanding god-father you have
devoured it all up; first Top-off, then Half-gone, then"----

"Will you hold your tongue!" screamed the cat, "another word, and I
devour you too!"

And the poor little mouse, having "All-gone" on her tongue, out it came,
and the cat leaped upon her and made an end of her. And that is the way
of the world.

The WOLF and the SEVEN LITTLE GOATS.

THERE was once an old goat who had seven little ones, and was as fond of
them as ever mother was of her children. One day she had to go into the
wood to fetch food for them, so she called them all round her.

"Dear children," said she, "I am going out into the wood; and while I am
gone, be on your guard against the wolf, for if he were once to get
inside he would eat you up, skin, bones, and all. The wretch often
disguises himself, but he may always be known by his hoarse voice and
black paws."

"Dear mother," answered the kids, "you need not be afraid, we will take
good care of ourselves." And the mother bleated good-bye, and went on
her way with an easy mind.

It was not long before some one came knocking at the house-door, and
crying out,

"Open the door, my dear children, your mother is come back, and has
brought each of you something."

But the little kids knew it was the wolf by the hoarse voice.

"We will not open the door," cried they; "you are not our mother, she
has a delicate and sweet voice, and your voice is hoarse; you must be
the wolf."

Then off went the wolf to a shop and bought a big lump of chalk, and ate
it up to make his voice soft. And then he came back, knocked at the
house-door, and cried,

"Open the door, my dear children, your mother is here, and has brought
each of you something."

But the wolf had put up his black paws against the window, and the kids
seeing this, cried out,

"We will not open the door; our mother has no black paws like you; you
must be the wolf."

The wolf then ran to a baker.

"Baker," said he, "I am hurt in the foot; pray spread some dough over
the place."

And when the baker had plastered his feet, he ran to the miller.

"Miller," said he, "strew me some white meal over my paws." But the
miller refused, thinking the wolf must be meaning harm to some one.

"If you don't do it," cried the wolf, "I'll eat you up!"

And the miller was afraid and did as he was told. And that just shows
what men are.

And now came the rogue the third time to the door and knocked. "Open,
chi