Page:Grimm-Rackham.djvu/170



HERE was once a sweet little maiden, who was loved by all who knew her; but she was especially dear to her Grandmother, who did not know how to make enough of the child. Once she gave her a little red velvet cloak. It was so becoming, and she liked it so much, that she would never wear anything else; and so she got the name of Red Riding Hood.

One day her Mother said to her: ‘Come here, Red Riding Hood, take this cake and a bottle of wine to Grandmother, she is weak and ill, and they will do her good. Go quickly, before it gets hot, and don’t loiter by the way, or run, or you will fall down and break the bottle, and there would be no wine for Grandmother. When you get there, don’t forget to say “Good morning” prettily, without staring about you.’

‘I will do just as you tell me,’ Red Riding Hood promised her Mother.

Her Grandmother lived away in the woods, a good half-hour from the village. When she got to the wood, she met a Wolf; but Red Riding Hood did not know what a wicked animal he was, so she was not a bit afraid of him.

‘Good-morning, Red Riding Hood,’ he said.

‘Good-morning, Wolf,’ she answered.

‘Whither away so early, Red Riding Hood?’

‘To Grandmother’s.’

‘What have you got in your basket?’

‘Cake and wine; we baked yesterday, so I’m taking a cake to Grannie; she wants something to make her well.’

‘Where does your Grandmother live, Red Riding Hood?’