Читать книгу Tales of Passed Times - Illustrated by Charles Robinson - Charles Perrault - Страница 14

Grandma, what great ears you have!

“Who is there?” Little Red Riding-Hood was frightened at first, on hearing the Wolf’s gruff voice, but thinking that her grandmother had a cold, she answered,—

“It is your grand-daughter, Little Red Riding-Hood. I have brought a cake and a little jar of butter, which my mother has sent you.”

The Wolf called out, this time in rather a softer voice, “Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up.” Little Red Riding-Hood pulled the bobbin, and the door opened.

When the Wolf saw her come in, he hid himself under the bedclothes, and said to her, “Put the cake and the little jar of butter in the cupboard, and come into bed with me.”

Little Red Riding-Hood undressed, and went to the bedside, and was very much astonished to see how different her grandmother looked to what she did when she was up and dressed.

“Grandmother,” she exclaimed, “what long arms you have!”

“All the better to embrace you with, my little girl.”

“Grandmother, what long legs you have!”

“All the better to run with, child.”

“Grandmother, what long ears you have!”

“All the better to hear with, child.”

“Grandmother, what large eyes you have!”

“All the better to see with, child.”

“Grandmother, what large teeth you have!”

“All the better to eat you with!” and saying these words, the wicked Wolf sprang out upon Little Red Riding-Hood, and ate her up.

MORAL

Now, children, take warning, and chiefly, I pray, You maidens so gentle and fair, When you come across all kinds of folk, have a care Not to listen to what they may say; For it can’t be thought strange if you do, Should the Wolf choose to eat up a few. The Wolf, I say here, for you’ll find Wolves are many, and vary in kind; There are some, easy-mannered and tame, Without malice, or temper, the same, Most obliging and sweet in their way, Like to follow their tender young prey, And will track them right into their homes—lack-a-day! Who among us has not learnt by this time to know, The most dangerous of wolves is the soft, smooth-tongued foe!