At last all six of the kids jumped out upon the grass.

They went hopping and skipping about their mother.

Then the old goat said to them, “Go and bring me some large stones from the brook.”

The seven little kids ran off to the brook and soon came back with seven large stones.

They put these stones inside the wicked old wolf.

[Illustration]

The old goat sewed up the wolf’s side so gently and quietly that he did not wake up nor move.

When at last the wicked wolf did wake up, the great stones inside him made him feel very heavy.

He was thirsty, too, so he walked down to the brook to drink.

The stones were so heavy that they tipped him over the edge of the bank into the deep water, and he was drowned.

WILLIAM AND JACOB GRIMM

    THEY DIDN’T THINK

    danger folks seized

    Once a trap was baited
      With a piece of cheese;
    It tickled so a little mouse,
      It almost made him sneeze. 
    An old rat said, “There’s danger,
      Be careful where you go!”
    “Nonsense!” said the other,
      “I don’t think you know!”
    So he walked in boldly—­
      Nobody in sight—­
    First he took a nibble,
      Then he took a bite;
    Close the trap together
      Snapped as quick as wink,
    Catching mousey fast there,
      ’Cause he didn’t think.

    Once there was a robin,
      Lived outside the door,
    Who wanted to go inside
      And hop upon the floor. 
    “No, no,” said the mother,
      “You must stay with me;
    Little birds are safest
      Sitting in a tree.” 
    “I don’t care,” said Robin,
      And gave his tail a fling,
    “I don’t think the old folks
      Know quite everything.” 
    Down he flew, and kitty seized him
      Before he’d time to blink;
    “Oh,” he cried, “I’m sorry,
      But I didn’t think.”

    PHOEBE CARY

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

TOM THUMB—­I

thumb people suit reins fought frightened brought thistledown

In the days of King Arthur, there lived a wise man named Merlin.

He knew all the fairies and where they lived.

Even the fairy queen was a friend of his.

Once, while he was traveling, night overtook him in a deep forest.

He rapped at the door of a small cottage and asked for some food.

Merlin looked so hungry and poor that the farmer and his wife took pity on him.

They not only gave him a bowl of milk with some brown bread, but they said he might stay through the night.

Merlin saw that, in spite of their pleasant cottage, both the farmer and his wife were very sad.