The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault. Charles Perrault

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      "Who's there?"

      "Your grand-child, Little Red Riding-Hood," replied the Wolf, counterfeiting her voice, "who has brought you a girdle-cake, and a little pot of butter, sent you by mamma."

      The good grand-mother, who was in bed, because she found herself somewhat ill, cry'd out:

      "Pull the peg, and the bolt will fall."

      The Wolf pull'd the peg, and the door opened, and then presently he fell upon the good woman, and ate her up in a moment; for it was above three days that he had not touched a bit. He then shut the door, and went into the grand-mother's bed, expecting Little Red Riding-Hood, who came some time afterwards, and knock'd 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 grand-mother had got a cold, and was hoarse, answered:

      "'Tis your grand-child, Little Red Riding-Hood, who has brought you a girdle-cake, 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 peg, and the bolt will fall."

      Little Red Riding-Hood pulled the peg, and the door opened. The Wolf seeing her come in, said to her, hiding himself under the bedclothes:

      "Put the cake, and the little pot of butter upon the bread-bin, and come and lye down with me."

      Little Red Riding-Hood undressed herself, and went into bed; where, being greatly amazed to see how her grand-mother looked in her night-cloaths, she said to her:

      "Grand-mamma, what great arms you have got!"

      "That is the better to hug thee, my dear."

      "Grand-mamma, what great legs you have got!"

      "That is to run the better, my child."

      "Grand-mamma, what great ears you have got!"

      "That is to hear the better, my child."

      "Grand-mamma, 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 ate her all up.

The Moral

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      From this short story easy we discern

       What conduct all young people ought to learn.

       But above all, young, growing misses fair,

       Whose orient rosy blooms begin t'appear:

       Who, beauties in the fragrant spring of age,

       With pretty airs young hearts are apt t'engage.

       Ill do they listen to all sorts of tongues,

       Since some inchant and lure like Syrens' songs.

       No wonder therefore 'tis, if over-power'd,

       So many of them has the Wolf devour'd.

       The Wolf, I say, for Wolves too sure there are

       Of every sort, and every character.

       Some of them mild and gentle-humour'd be,

       Of noise and gall, and rancour wholly free;

       Who tame, familiar, full of complaisance

       Ogle and leer, languish, cajole and glance;

       With luring tongues, and language wond'rous sweet,

       Follow young ladies as they walk the street,

       Ev'n to their very houses, nay, bedside,

       And, artful, tho' their true designs they hide;

       Yet ah! these simpering Wolves! Who does not see

       Most dangerous of Wolves indeed they be?

The Fairy

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"'WHAT IS THIS I SEE?' SAID HER MOTHER" (page 30)

The Fairy

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      here was, once upon a time, a widow, who had two daughters. The eldest was so much like her in the face and humour, that whoever looked upon the daughter saw the mother. They were both so disagreeable, and so proud, that there was no living with them. The youngest, who was the very picture of her father, for courtesy and sweetness of temper, was withal one of the most beautiful girls ever seen. As people naturally love their own likeness, this mother even doated on her eldest daughter, and at the same time had a horrible aversion for the youngest. She made her eat in the kitchen, and work continually.

      Among other things, this poor child was forced twice a day to draw water above a mile and a half off the house, and bring home a pitcher full of it. One day, as she was at this fountain, there came to her a poor woman, who begged of her to let her drink.

      "O ay, with all my heart, Goody," said this pretty maid; and rinsing immediately the pitcher, she took up some water from the clearest place of the fountain, and gave it to her, holding up the pitcher all the while, that she might drink the easier.

      The good woman having drank, said to her:

"You are so very pretty, my dear, so good and so mannerly, that I cannot help giving you a gift" (for this was a Fairy, who had taken the form of a poor country-woman, to see how far the civility and good manners of this pretty girl would go). "I will give you for gift," continued the Fairy, "that at every word you speak, there shall come out of your mouth either a flower, or a jewel."

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