THE FOx AND LITTLE RED HEN
A sly young fox lived with his mother in a den of rocks on a big hill.
One day he said, "Mother, have the big pot on the fire when I comehome to-night. I shall be bringing Little Red Hen for supper."Off he went, with a
bag on his back, tramp, tramp, over the hills, to the home of Little Red Hen.
****** Little Red Hen was picking up sticks for herfire, and she did not see the sly fox.
He popped in behind the door.
Then in came Little Red Hen with her apron
full of sticks. "I"m glad I"m safely in," she said.
She put the sticks on the fire, and locked the door.
"Oh, oh!" she said, "Who is this behind my door?"For there was the ugly fox, with his bushy tail on the floor, and his big bag on his back.
Up she flew to her perch, just under the roof. "I"ll get you!" said the fox, and he began tospin just like a top.
He spun, and spun, and spun, till Little Red Hen was giddy and fell to the floor.
Quickly he popped her in his bag, and set off for his den in the rocks.
****** Tramp, tramp, over the hills he went, andbump, bump, went Little Red Hen on his back.
"Oh, oh! I must think of a way to get out," she said to herself.
"He set off for his den."
By and by, while the fox was resting, she felt in her apron pocket.
Oh, there were her little scissors!
Snip, snip, she went, till she had cut a hole in the bag.
Out she jumped, picked up a large stone, and popped it in.
Then she ran, and ran, until she was safely in her little home.
******
On and on went the fox with his bumpy bag.
When he got near his den, he called out, "Here is Little Red Hen. Have you the pot on the fire?" "Yes, yes," said Mother Fox. " I" ll lift the lid,and you pop in the hen. Come close to the pot." She lifted the lid.
He lifted the bag.
Then in went the big stone.
Splash! splash! splash! came the hot water all over the foxes, and that was the end of them.
Lesson 46
THE THREE BILLy GOATS GRUFF
Once upon a time there were three billy goats gruff.
They were going up the hill to get themselves fat.
The first was Little Billy Goat Gruff.
The second was Middle-sized Billy Goat Gruff.
The third was Big Billy Goat Gruff.
On the way, they had to cross a bridge over a river.
Under this bridge there lived a greedy troll, with eyes as big as saucers, and a nose as long as a poker.
This troll liked to eat goats better than any- thing else.
The three goats were afraid of the greedy troll; but they did want to eat the grass on the hill -it was so fresh and green.
One day Little Billy Goat Gruff said, "I will cross that bridge. I am going to eat some of that fresh green grass.""If you do, the troll will catch you," said the other goats.
"I am not afraid now," said Little Billy Goat Gruff. "He will not eat me; I am too little."So he trotted, trip-trap, trip-trap, over the bridge.
"Who"s that tripping over my bridge?" shouted the troll.
"It"s only the tiniest billy goat," said Little Billy Goat Gruff.
"I am coming to gobble you up," said the troll.
"Do not eat me, I am so little. My brother ismuch fatter. Wait for him."
"Well, be off with you," said the troll.
So Little Billy Goat Gruff ran, trip- trap, trip- trap, over the bridge.
In a little while came the next billy goat gruff. "Who"s that tripping over my bridge?"shouted the troll.
"It"s only Middle-sized Billy Goat," said the second billy goat gruff.
"I am coming to gobble you up," said the troll.
"Do not eat me," said the goat."Wait till Big Billy Goat comes. He is much fatter than I am.""Well, be off with you," said the troll; and away went the second billy goat gruff, trip-trap, trip-trap, over the bridge.
Just then came Big Billy Goat Gruff, TRIP, TRAP, TRIP, TRAP, over the bridge.
He was so heavy that the bridge went creak,
creak, creak under him.
"Who"s that tramping over my bridge?" shouted the troll.
"It"s Big Billy Goat Gruff," said he in a loud voice.
"I am coming to gobble you up," screamed the troll.
" Come on, then," said Big Billy Goat Gruff. He was not afraid now. He shook his head.
He stamped his feet. He rushed at the greedy old troll, caught him on his horns, and tossed him right into the river.
So the three billy goats gruff were free to eat the fresh green grass on the hill.
Lesson 47
THE FIELD mOUSE AND THE ACORN
By the edge of a wood stood a big oak-tree. Tiny acorns hid among the green leaves. Day by day they became bigger and bigger. Soon the hot sun made them ripe.
Then the wind came, and shook the branches.
It rattled the acorns in their cups. This made them loose.
They fell from the tree, and lay among the dry grass by its big roots.
One day a little mouse went out to look for food.
He came to the spot where the acorns lay. Soon he found a very big round one.
He took hold of it with his little paw.
It was so smooth that it rolled away from him.
He ran after it; but it kept rolling on, till it fell down a small hole under a big root.
The little mouse went in after it.
Then he saw tiny steps going down into the ground.
Down, down went the acorn with a soft, tapping sound.
Down, down went the field-mouse.
At the bottom of the steps, the acorn struck a little door.
It flew open, and into a little room rolled the acorn.
In, after it, went the mouse. There stood a little red man!
As soon as the mouse was in, the red man shut the door.
"Ah! You are mine!" he cried. "You shall be my slave. You shall make my bed. You shall sweep my room with this little broom. Each day, you shall cook broth for my dinner."Then he took the acorn and hid it.
"It is mine," said the red man, "for you stole it.""No! no!"said the mouse; "it is mine, for I found it."In the morning, the little red man went out, and locked the door after him.
"There stood a little red man."
In the afternoon, he came back. He did this each day.
One day he was in a hurry.
He turned the key, but the door was not quite shut, and it did not lock.
"This is my chance!" said the mouse to himself.
"I will not be a slave. I shall go away, and I mean to take my acorn with me."He looked about the room for it. He hunted on every shelf.
He peeped into every drawer.
Then he saw a wee door over the fire-place. He got up on a chair and opened the door. There was the acorn.