Page:Mother goose's fairy tales (1).pdf/4

4 FAIRY TALES great ears you have got! That is to hear the better, my child. Grandmamma, what great eyes you have got! It is to see the better, my child. Grandmamma, what great teeth you have got! That is to eat thee up.” And saying these words, this wicked wolf fell upon poor Little Red Riding Hood, and eat her all up.

TALE II. BLUE BEARD.

HERE was a man who had fine houses, both in town and country, a deal of silver and gold plate, embroidered furniture and coaches, gilded all over with gold. But this man had the misfortune to have a blue beard, which made him so frightfully ugly that all the women and girls ran away from him.

One of his neighbours, a lady of quality, had two daughters, who were perfect beauties. He desired of her one of them in marriage, leaving to her the choice which of the two she would bestow upon him. They would neither of them have him, and sent him backwards and forwards from one to another, being not able to bear the thoughts of marrying a man who had a blue beard. And what besides gave them disgust and aversion, was, his having already been married to several wives, and nobody ever knew what became of them.

Blue Beard, to engage their affection, took them, with the lady, their mother, and three or four ladies of their acquaintance, with other young people of the neighbourhood to one of his country seats, where they staid a whole week. There was nothing then to be seen bur parties of pleasure, hunting, fishing, dancing, mirth, and feasting. Nobody went to bed, but all passed the night in rallying and joking with each other: in short, every thing so well succeeded, that the youngest daughter began to think