She plac'd the custards on the floor,
And sigh'd ... "I wish I'd brought you four.[43]
I'm very tir'd, dear grandmummie;
Oh! may I come to bed to thee?"
"Oh come! (the wolf king softly cried),
And lie, my sweet one, by my side:"
Ah! little thought the child so gay
The cruel wolf king near her lay!
"Oh! tell me, tell me, granny dear,
Why does your voice so gruff appear?"
"Oh! hush, sweetheart (the wolf king said),
I've got a small cold in my head!"
"Oh! tell me, grandmummie so kind,
Why you've a tail grows out behind?"
"Oh! hush thee, hush thee, pretty dear,
My pincushion I hang on there!"
"Why do your eyes so glare on me?"
"They are your pretty face to see."
"Why do your ears so long appear?"
"They are your pretty voice to hear."
"Oh! tell me, granny, why to-night
Your teeth appear so long and white?"[44]
Then, growling, cried the wolf so grim,
"They are to tear you limb from limb!"
His hungry teeth the wolf king gnash'd,
His sparkling eyes with fury flash'd,
He op'd his jaws all sprent with blood,
And fell on small red riding hood.
He tore her bowels out one and two,
"Little maid, I will eat you!"
But when he tore out three and four,
The little maid she was no more!
Take warning hence, ye children fair;
Of wolves' insidious arts beware;
And, as you pass each lonely wood,
Ah! think of small red riding hood!
With custards sent, nor loiter slow,
Nor gather blue bells as you go;
Get not to bed with grandmummie,
Lest she a ravenous wolf should be!