Little Red Ridinghood. “We must call you ‘Little Red Ridinghood!’” said her mother, as she tied the pretty red hood under her little girl’s chin. “Now take this cake and this bottle of wine to your grandmother, and if you meet people on the way, wish them ‘good morning.’”
As Little Red Ridinghood went through the wood, she met Mr. Wolf, and wished him “good morning!” “Good morning, little maid,” said he; “and where are you going?” “I am going to my grandmother’s,” she said, “to take her this cake and this bottle of wine.” “You are a nice little girl,” said Mr. Wolf, “and I wish you good day!”
As Little Red Ridinghood went along, she said to herself: “I am sure it would please my grandmother if I were to bring her a bunch of flowers!” And in an open space, where the sun was shining, she found some nodding columbines and some blue violets, and made a pretty nosegay.
Mr. Wolf waited till he saw Little Red Ridinghood busy gathering flowers, and then he ran on ahead till he came to her grandmother’s house. He tapped on the door, and grandmother said, “Who is there?” Then Mr. Wolf made his voice as small as he could, and said: “I am Little Red Ridinghood, and I have brought you a cake, and a bottle of wine!”
“Welcome, dear child!” said the grandmother. “Pull the bobbin, and the latch will fly up.”
Then Mr. Wolf pulled the bobbin, and up flew the latch, and in he went; and there lay the grandmother in the bed, for she was too old and feeble to get up. Then Mr. Wolf ran to the bed, and seized the poor old grandmother, and ate her up as quick as a wink. And he put her night-cap on his head, and jumped into the bed, and pulled the clothes about his ears.
Very soon Little Red Ridinghood came to the door and tapped, and Mr. Wolf made his voice as small as he could, and said, “Who is there!” And Little Red Ridinghood said: “It is I, dear grandmother, and I have brought you a cake and a bottle of wine!”
“Welcome, dear child! ” squeaked Mr. Wolf. “Pull the bobbin, and the latch will fly up!”
Then Little Red Ridinghood pulled the bobbin and up flew the latch, and in she went, and thought she saw her grandmother lying on the bed. “Come here, my dear,” said Mr. Wolf, “and sit by me, for I am old and feeble, and cannot get up.” Then Little Red Ridinghood looked at her grandmother, and said: “Why, grandmother, what big ears you have!” “The better to hear you with,” said Mr. Wolf. “Why, grandmother, what big eyes you have!” “The better to see you with, my dear!” “Why, grandmother, what a big mouth you have!” “The better to eat you with, my dear!” said Mr. Wolf, and with that he seized poor Little Red Ridinghood, and ate her up in the twinkling of an eye.
Littlejohn (Bailie), a magistrate at Fairport.—Sir W. Scott, The Antiquary (time, George III.).