Little Red Riding HoodÅldersanpassad version

Once upon a time, there lived in a certain village a little country girl, the prettiest creature ever seen. Her mother was extremely fond of her, and her grandmother doted on her even more. This good woman made her a little red riding hood, which became the girl so well that everyone called her Little Red Riding Hood.

One day, her mother, having made some cakes, said to her: "Go, my dear, and see how your grandmother is doing, for I hear she has been very ill. Carry her a cake and this little pot of butter."

Little Red Riding Hood set out immediately to go to her grandmother, who lived in another village. As she was going through the wood, she met a wolf, who had a very great mind to eat her up, but he dared not because of some woodcutters nearby in the forest.

He asked her where she was going. The poor child, who did not know that it was dangerous to stay and talk to a wolf, said to him: "I am going to see my grandmother and carry her a cake and a little pot of butter from my mother."

"Does she live far off?" said the wolf.

"Oh, yes," answered Little Red Riding Hood, "it is beyond that mill you see there, at the first house in the village."

"Well," said the wolf, "I'll go and see her too. I'll go this way, and you go 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 the longest way, amusing herself by gathering nuts, running after butterflies, and picking wildflowers. 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, imitating her voice, "who has brought you a cake and a little pot of butter, sent by your daughter."

The good grandmother, who was in bed because she was feeling ill, cried out: "Pull the peg, and the bolt will fall."

The wolf pulled the peg, the door opened, and then he fell upon the old woman and ate her up in a moment, for it was above three days since he had touched a bit. He then shut the door and went into the grandmother's bed, expecting Little Red Riding Hood, who came some time afterwards 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 a cold and was hoarse, answered: "It's your grandchild, Little Red Riding Hood, who has brought you a cake and a little pot of butter, which mother sends you."

The wolf called 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 lie down with me."

Little Red Riding Hood undressed herself and got into bed, where, being greatly amazed to see how her grandmother looked in her nightclothes, she said to her: "Grandmother, what great arms you have got!"

"That is to hug you better, my dear."

"Grandmother, what great legs you have got!"

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

"Grandmother, what great ears you have got!"

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

"Grandmother, what great eyes you have got!"

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

"Grandmother, what great teeth you have got!"

"That is to eat you up!"

And, saying these words, this wicked wolf fell upon poor Little Red Riding Hood and ate her all up.

The Moral

From this short story we easily learn what conduct all young people ought to follow. But above all, young girls, with rosy cheeks just blooming, who easily attract others with their charm, should not listen to every kind of talk, since some enchant like the songs of sirens.

No wonder so many have been devoured by the wolf—for wolves there are of every sort and character. Some are mild and gentle, free from noise and bitterness, tame and full of flattery, who ogle and leer, languish and cajole with sweet words, following young ladies even to their houses, even to their bedside, hiding their true intentions.

Yet these simpering wolves are the most dangerous of all.