Mother goose's fairy tales/Little Red Riding Hood

FAIRY TALES.

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TALE I.

Little Red Riding Hood.

ONCE upon a time, there lived in a certain village, a little country girl, the prettieſt creature ever was ſeen. Her mother was exceſsively fond of her; and her grandmother doated on her much more. This good woman got made for her a red little riding hood, which became the girl ſo extremely well, that every body called her LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.

One day, her mother having made ſome cuſtards, ſaid to her, "Go, my dear, and ſee how thy grand-mamma does, for I hear ſhe has been very ill, carry her a cuſtard and this little pot of butter." Little Red Riding Hood ſets out immediately to go to her grandmother, who lived in another village. As ſhe was going through the wood, ſhe met with Gaffer Wolf, who had a great mind to eat her up, but he durſt not, because of ſome faggot-makers hard by in the foreſt. He aſked her, whither ſhe was going? The poor child who did not know that it was dangerous to ſtay, and hear a wolf talk, ſaid, "I am going to see my grand-mamma, and carry her a cuſtard, and a little pot of butter from my mamma." "Does she live far off?" ſaid the wolf. "O! ay," anſwered Little Red Riding Hood, it is beyond that mill you ſee there, at the first houſe in the village." "Well," ſaid the wolf, and I'll go and ſee her too; I'll go this way, and go you that, and we ſhall ſee who will be there ſooneſt."

The wolf began to run as faſt as he could, taking the neareſt way, and the little girl went by that fartheſt about, diverting herſelf in gathering nuts, running after butterflies, and making nose-gays, of ſuch little flowers as ſhe met with. The wolf was not long before he got to the old woman's houſe. He knocked at the door, tap, tap. "Who’s there?" "Your grandchild, Little Red Riding Hood, (replied the wolf, counterfeiting her voice) who has brought you a cuſtard, and a little pot of butter ſent you by my mamma."

The good grandmother, who was in bed, becauſe ſhe found herſelf ſomewhat ill, cried out, "Pull the bobin, and the latch will go up." The wolf pulled the bobin, and the door opened, and then preſently he fell upon the good woman, and eat her up in a moment; for it was three days that he had not touched a bit. He then ſhut the door, and went into the grandmother's bed, expecting Little Red Riding Hood, who came ſometime afterward, and knocked at the door, tap, tap: "Who's there?" Little Red Riding Hood, hearing the big voice of the wolf, was at first afraid; but believing her grandmother had got a cold, and was hoarſe, anſwered, "'Tis your grandchild Little Red Riding Hood, who has brought you a cuſtard and a little pot of butter, mamma ſends you." The wolf cried out to her, ſoftening his voice as much as he could, "Pull the bobin, and the latch will go up." Little Red Riding Hood pulled the bobin and the door opened. The wolf ſeelng her come in, ſaid to her, hiding himſelf under the bed-clothes, "Put the cuſtard and pot of butter upon the ſtool, and come and lie down by me." Little Red Riding Hood undreſſed herſelf, and went into bed; where being greatly amazed to ſee her grandmother in her night clothes, ſaid to her, "Grandmamma, what great arms you have got!" That is the better to hug thee, my dear. Grandmamma, what great legs you have gotThat is to run the better, my child. Grandmamma, what great ears you have got! That is to hear the better, my child. Grandmamma, what great eyes you have got! It is to ſee the better, my child. Grand-mamma, what great teeth you have got! That is to eat thee up." And ſaying theſe words, this wicked wolf fell upon poor Little Red Riding Hood, and eat her all up.