TOM THUMB
How He Gets into the Red Cow’s Stomach
Well, soon after the batter pudding mischief, Tom’s mother went to milk her cow in the meadow, and she took Tom along with her. As the wind was strong she was afraid he might be blown away, so she took out of her pocket a piece of fine thread and tied him to a thistle. Then she set about milking the cow.
It wasn’t long before the cow caught sight of Tom’s oak leaf hat, and thrusting out her tongue she took in poor Tom and the thistle at a mouthful. Tom was terrified. But while the cow was chewing the thistle he had time to collect his wits, although he was afraid every minute her monstrous teeth would crush him in pieces. So he roared out as loudly as he could, “Mother, mother!”
“Where are you, Tommy, my darling? where are you?” cried his mother, dropping her milking.
“Here, mother,” he shouted, “here, in the red cow’s mouth.”
At this his poor mother began to cry and wring her hands, looking helplessly at the cow. But what was her joy! The cow, surprised at the odd noise in her throat, opened her mouth and let Tom drop out. Quick as a flash his mother caught him up before he could fall to the ground, and she ran home with him.