[Illustration:  Painted by Jennie Harbour little red riding hood]

The grandmother lived far away in the wood, a long walk from the village, and as Little Red Riding Hood came among the trees she met a wolf; but she did not know what a wicked animal it was, and so she was not at all frightened.  “Good-morning, Little Red Riding Hood,” he said.

“Thank you, Mr. Wolf,” she said.

“Where are you going so early, Little Red Riding Hood?”

“To my grandmother’s,” she answered.

“And what are you carrying under your apron?”

“Some wine and meat,” she replied.  “We baked the meat yesterday, so that grandmother, who is very weak, might have a nice strengthening meal.”

“And where does your grandmother live?” asked the Wolf.

“Oh, quite twenty minutes’ walk further in the forest.  The cottage stands under three great oak trees; and close by are some nut bushes, by which you will at once know it.”

The wolf was thinking to himself, “She is a nice tender thing, and will taste better than the old woman; I must act cleverly, that I may make a meal of both.”

[Illustration:  “Where are you going so early, little red riding hood.”]

Presently he came up again to Little Red Riding Hood and said.  “Just look at the beautiful flowers which grow near you; why do you not look about you?  I believe you don’t hear how sweetly the birds are singing.  You walk as if you were going to school; see how cheerful everything is around you in the forest.”

And Little Red Riding Hood opened her eyes; and when she saw how the sunbeams glanced and danced through the trees, and what bright flowers were blooming in her path, she thought, “If I take my grandmother a fresh nosegay she will be much pleased; and it is so very early that I can, even then, get there in good time:”  and running into the forest she looked about for flowers.  But when she had once begun she did not know how to leave off, and kept going deeper and deeper among the trees looking for some still more beautiful flower.  The Wolf, however, ran straight to the house of the old grandmother, and knocked at the door.

“Who’s that?” asked the old lady.

“Only little Red Riding Hood, bringing you some meat and wine; please open the door,” answered the Wolf.

“Lift up the latch,” cried the grandmother; “I am much too ill to get up myself.”

So the Wolf lifted the latch, and the door flew open; and without a word he jumped on to the bed and gobbled up the poor old lady.  Then he put on her clothes, and tied her night-cap over his head; got into the bed, and drew the blankets over him.