Page:Fairy tales (3).pdf/11

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custards and cheese-cakes, called her, and said, My little Biddy, (for that was her name) go and see your grandmother, and take also with you some custards and cheese-cakes, and this pot of butter. The little red riding-hood was soon put on, and out she sets to see her grandmother, who you must observe lived at another village through a wood.

When she came to the farther end of the wood, she was met by gossip Wolf, who, being a very cruel creature, had a mind to eat her up; but as some faggot men were at work in the forrest, he did not dare to it: but by his deceitful speeches tried another way to destroy her, and like a treacherous knave, asked her where she was going so early?

The pretty innocent child, who thought no harm herself,and did not know what had company she had fallen into discourse with, said, I am going to my grandmother who is not well, with custard, and a little pot of butter, which my mother sends her. At which the cunning wolf asks if she lived far off?

A great way below yonder mill, (pointing with her little white finger) in the village you see yonder.

Well, said the designing Wolf, I will go and see her too; but I will go the other way, do you go that; I will be there as soon as you. So the little girl went through the meadows, gathered cowslips and violets to make her grandmother's windows sweet and fine: for it was in the month of May, when those flowers were in their prime.

The Wolf, who knew the nearest way, and went much faster than the child, was not long before he got to the grandmother's house; when he