on her cap and nightgown. He laughed in his sleeve to think of the trick he was to play upon Little Red Riding Hood, who must soon be coming.

All this time Little Red Riding Hood was on her way through the wood.

She stopped to listen to the birds that sang so sweetly over her head, she picked the sweet strawberries that her grandmother liked, and she made a bright nosegay of the flowers that sprang all along her way.

A wasp buzzed about her head and lighted on her flowers. "Eat as much as you like," she said, "only do not sting me." He buzzed the louder, but soon flew away.

And a little bird, a tomtit, came and pecked at the strawberries in her basket. "Take all you want, pretty

tomtit," said Little Red Riding Hood; "there will still be plenty left for grandmother and me." "Tweat, tweat," sang the bird, and was soon out of sight.

And now she came upon an old

dame who was looking for cresses.

Let me fill your basket," she said; and she gave her the bread she had brought to eat by the way.

The dame soon rose and, patting the little maid upon the head, said, “Thank you, Little Red Riding Hood; and now, if you should meet the green huntsman as you go, pray give him my respects, and tell him there is game in

the wind."

Little Red Riding Hood looked all about for the green huntsman. She had never seen or heard of such a person before.

At last she passed by a pool of

water, so green that you would have taken it for grass. As often as she had passed that way she was sure that she had never seen it before. There she saw a huntsman, clad all in green. He stood looking at some birds that flew above his head.

"Good morning, Mr. Huntsman," said Little Red Riding Hood; "the water-cress woman sends her respects and says there is game

to you, wind."

in the

The huntsman nodded. He bent his ear to the ground to listen; then he took an arrow, and strung his bow.

What can it mean?" thought the little girl.

She came soon to her grandmother's cottage and gave a little tap at the door. "Who's there?" cried the wolf.

The hoarse voice made Little Red Riding Hood start, but she said to herself, "Poor grandmother must have a bad cold."

"It's I, your Little Red Riding Hood," she said. "I've come to see how you are, and to bring you a pot of butter and a cake from mother."

"Pull the bobbin, and the latch will fly up," called the wolf. Little Red Riding Hood did so, and went into the cottage.

"Put the cake and butter on the table," said the wolf; "then come and help me to rise." He had turned his face away so that she saw only the grandmother's white cap.

She took off her things, and went to the bed to do as she had been bidden. Why, grandmother," she said, “what long arms you have!"

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