“Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up,” says the old woman, well satisfied.

So the wolf pulled the bobbin, the latch went up, and—­oh my!—­it wasn’t a minute before he had gobbled up old Grannie, for he had had nothing to eat for a week.

Then he shut the door, put on Grannie’s nightcap, and, getting into bed, rolled himself well up in the clothes.

By and by along comes little Red Riding-Hood, who had been amusing herself by gathering nuts, running after butterflies, and picking flowers.

So she knocked at the door.

Rap!  Rap!  Rap!

“Who’s there?” says the wolf, making his voice as soft as he could.

Now little Red Riding-Hood heard the voice was very gruff, but she thought her grandmother had a cold; so she said: 

“Little Red Riding-Hood, with a pot of butter and a cake from mother, to ask how you are.”

“Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up.”

So little Red Riding-Hood pulled the bobbin, the latch went up, and there, she thought, was her grandmother in the bed; for the cottage was so dark one could not see well.  Besides, the crafty wolf turned his face to the wall at first.  And he made his voice as soft, as soft as he could, when he said: 

“Come and kiss me, my dear.”

Then little Red Riding-Hood took off her cloak and went to the bed.

“Oh, Grandmamma, Grandmamma,” says she, “what big arms you’ve got!”

“All the better to hug you with,” says he.

“But, Grandmamma, Grandmamma, what big legs you have!”

“All the better to run with, my dear.”

“Oh, Grandmamma, Grandmamma, what big ears you’ve got!”

“All the better to hear with, my dear.”

“But, Grandmamma, Grandmamma, what big eyes you’ve got!”

“All the better to see you with, my dear!”

“Oh, Grandmamma, Grandmamma, what big teeth you’ve got!”

“All the better to eat you with, my dear!” says that wicked, wicked wolf, and with that he gobbled up little Red Riding-Hood.

CHILDE ROWLAND

  Childe Rowland and his brothers twain
  Were playing at the ball. 
  Their sister, Burd Helen, she played
  In the midst among them all.

For Burd Helen loved her brothers, and they loved her exceedingly.  At play she was ever their companion and they cared for her as brothers should.  And one day when they were at ball close to the churchyard—­

  Childe Rowland kicked it with his foot
  And caught it on his knee. 
  At last as he plunged among them all,
  O’er the church he made it flee.

Now Childe Rowland was Burd Helen’s youngest, dearest brother, and there was ever a loving rivalry between them as to which should win.  So with a laugh—­

  Burd Helen round about the aisle
  To seek the ball is gone.

Now the ball had trundled to the right of the church; so, as Burd Helen ran the nearest way to get it, she ran contrary to the sun’s course, and the light, shining full on her face, sent her shadow behind her.  Thus that happened which will happen at times when folk forget and run widershins, that is against the light, so that their shadows are out of sight and cannot be taken care of properly.