pig. "Then I will myself," said the little red hen, and she did. When the wheat was was gathered, she said, "Who will take this wheat to the mill?" "I won't," said the rat. "I won't," said the cat. "I won't," said the pig. "Then I will myself," said the little red hen, and she did. 66 When the flour was ground, she said, Who will bake this flour into bread?" "I won't," said the rat. "I won't," said the cat. "I won't," said the pig. "Then I will myself," said the little red hen, and she did. When the bread was baked, she said, Who will eat this bread?" "I will," I will," said the cat. "I said the rat. 66 will," said the pig. No, you won't," said the little red hen. "I will do that myself," and she did. THE LADYBIRD AND THE FLY A FLY and a ladybird once kept house together. They made their tea in an eggshell. One day the ladybird fell in and was burned. The fly set up such a scream that the little door of the room asked, "Why do you scream so, fly?" self," said the fly. Then began the door to creak. 66 Door, why do you creak?" asked the little broom in the corner. "Shall I not creak? Ladybird is burned, And little fly weeps." Then began the broom to sweep with all its might. By and by a stream passed the door, and it said, "Why do you sweep so, little broom?" "Shall I not sweep?" said the broom. "Ladybird is burned, And little door creaks." Then said the stream, "So will I run"; and it ran as fast as it could. "Why are you running so?" asked a fire. "Shall I not run," it asked, "When ladybird is burned, Then said the fire, "So will I burn"; and it burned into a fearful flame. A tree grew near the fire, and it said, "Fire, why do you burn? 66 'Why should I not burn," it replied, "When ladybird is burned, And little fly weeps, The little door creaks, The little broom sweeps, And little stream runs?" Then said the little tree, "So will I rustle." And it began to shake so hard that the leaves fell off. A little maid came by with her water pitcher, and she said, “Tree, why you rustle so?" do "Shall I not rustle?" the tree re plied. Ladybird is burned, Little fly weeps, Little door creaks, Little broom sweeps, Little stream runs, And little fire burns." "Then I will break my little pitcher," said the maiden. So she broke her pitcher. Then said the well, as the water flowed out," Maiden, why do you break your pitcher?" "Shall I not break my pitcher," she said, "When ladybird is burned, Little door creaks, And little broom sweeps, Little stream runs, Little fire burns, And little tree rustles?" "Ah!" said the well, "Then I will begin to flow." And the water flowed so fast that the maiden, the tree, the stream, the broom, the door, the fly, and the ladybird were all drowned together. |