Fairy tales (1800)/Little Red Riding-hood

THE
STORY
OF
LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD.

ONCE upon a time there lived in a certian village, a little girl, one prettiest creature that ever was seen; loved and admired by all, not one in the village could compare with her. Her mother was fond of her to a great degree, and her grandmother much more so; and well they might, she was so good natured, so sweet tempered, and so ready to oblige; and besides never missed her prayers twice or thrice a day for her mother, grandmother, and all her relations, and every body else she could think of. It being cold weather her grandmother had a little red riding hood made for her to keep her warm, and she looked so very pretty and pleasant when she had it on, that by every body she soon gained the name of Little Red Riding-Hood.

Her mother came one day, knowing that her grandmother was ill; and having made some custards and cheese-cakes, called her, and said, My little Biddy, (for that was her name) go and see your grandmother, and take also with you some custards and cheese-cakes, and this pot of butter. The little red riding-hood was soon put on, and out she sets to see her grandmother, who you must observe lived at another village through a wood.

When she came to the farther end of the wood, she was met by gossip Wolf, who, being a very cruel creature, had a mind to eat her up; but as some faggot men were at work in the forrest, he did not dare to it: but by his deceitful speeches tried another way to destroy her, and like a treacherous knave, asked her where she was going so early?

The pretty innocent child, who thought no harm herself,and did not know what had company she had fallen into discourse with, said, I am going to my grandmother who is not well, with custard, and a little pot of butter, which my mother sends her. At which the cunning wolf asks if she lived far off?

A great way below yonder mill, (pointing with her little white finger) in the village you see yonder.

Well, said the designing Wolf, I will go and see her too; but I will go the other way, do you go that; I will be there as soon as you. So the little girl went through the meadows, gathered cowslips and violets to make her grandmother's windows sweet and fine: for it was in the month of May, when those flowers were in their prime.

The Wolf, who knew the nearest way, and went much faster than the child, was not long before he got to the grandmother's house; when he kicked at the door, toc, toc, Who is there? quoth the good old woman. Your grand-daughter Biddy, said the wolf, (imitating the child's voice as much as he could) and I have brought you some custard and a little pot of butter which mother has sent you, The grandmother, who was ill, and in bed, bid her pull the latch, and the door would open, so the wolf pulled the latch, went into the room, and with his great teeth and ravenous appetite, soon ate the poor old woman entirely up, (for you must understand he was very sharp set, having had nothing to eat for three or four days before.) After he had eaten up the grand-mother, he like a cunning villain thought how he might deceive Little Red Riding-Hood, and devour her also So he shuts to the door very close again, and rolls himself into the grandmother's bed because he was sure Little Red Riding-Hood would soon be there.

A little time after, she came and knocked at the door toc toc. Who is there? quoth the treacherous wolf. The little harmless Riding Hood hearing so gruff a voice (though he had dissembled as much as he could) was afraid at first; however not knowing but her grandmother might have taken a great cold, and to be very hoarse, she said, it is your grand-daughter Biddy, and I have brought you some custard and a little pot of butter, my mamma sent me with to you. The Wolf answers her in as soft a voice as he could, Lift up the latch and the door will open; which she did, and coming to the bed-side, the perfidious wolf hiding his ugly head under the clothes and speaking in a faint tone, said, put the custard and butter on the stool, and come into bed, for I am very cold.

The good nature and kind temper of little Red Riding-Hood made it not long before she obeyed the commands of her grandmother, undressed herself, and went into bed; but was sadly frighted at her grandmama's long ears, which stared over her night cap. So said the child to her (feeling her arms) Bless me! grandmama, what great arms you have got! They are the better to embrace; thee, my pretty child, Grandmama, what great and strange legs you have got! They are the better to run, my child. Grand-mama what great eyes, and long teeth you have got! They are the better to see you, and to eat yon up. And as soon as he had said these words, this wicked wolf flew upon poor Little Red Riding-Hood, and eat her up.