Presently the stage lights came on disclosing a small child washing dishes, the dishpan on a chair, while June, dressed in a long skirt, with a scarf pinned around her shoulders and her hair done up high, was preparing a basket.
“Now, little Red Riding-Hood, get your cloak and let me put it on for you. Here, my child, are some nice fruit and a fresh blueberry pie for your grandmother. Go straight there and don’t stop to talk to any one on the way!” June’s finger was raised impressively.
“All right, Mother,” replied Red Riding-Hood in her most sugary tones, while the audience laughed. The mother fastened the red cape and hood that made somebody’s little rain coat, kissed her little girl, waved her hand to her as Red Riding-Hood set out, and followed her to the door where she stood, still waving. Then she returned to her rocking chair, picked up some knitting, and settled back with a great air of responsibility. Promptly the lights went out again and a few adjustments were made for the next scene.
When the lights went on the signs of housekeeping had been removed. A placard placed upon the table announced “The Woods”. Little Red Riding-Hood came strolling in, swinging her basket and looking at the birds. “O, aren’t you pretty? I guess you’re a song sparrow. O, what’s that?”
From the right of the stage came suddenly a terrible looking animal whose tawny coat looked much like one of the girls’ ponchos.
“Gr-rr-rr! Where are you going, little girl? Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you.”
“O, I’m just going to take some fruit to my grandmother.”
“Where does your grandmother live?”
“Just in a nice little house on the edge of the wood.”
The rest of the story proceeded in due order, the children making up the lines as they went along, all of them, of course, being perfectly familiar with the story. The wolf duly found the grandmother in bed and ate her up with much scuffling and growling, putting on her cap and getting into her bed, a pallet on the floor. How innocently did little Red Riding-Hood ask, “What makes your teeth so long and sharp, Grandmother?” And how fiercely did the wolf reply, “All the better to-eat-you-all-up-with!” The scene and drama ended with the timely coming of the woodcutters and the demise of the snarling wolf.