Onceupon a time, there was a little girl who lived with her parents ina cottage on the edge of the forest. Her father was a woodcutter.He worked all day long in the forest, chopping down trees with hishuge axe.
Right in the middle of the forest wasanother cottage. It belonged to the little girl'sgrandmother.
The kind old lady loved her granddaughtervery much, and one day decided to make her a present. It was a redcloak with a red hood to match.
The cloak looked so nice that the littlegirl wore it all the time. And that is why everybody called her RedRiding Hood.
One day Grandmother fell ill, so RedRiding Hood's mother baked her a cake and made her some freshbutter, just to make her feel better.
"Red Riding Hood," called her mother."Take this cake and butter to Grandmother's cottage, a visit fromyou will cheer her up!"
So Red Riding Hood picked up the basket,waved goodbye to her mother and went off down the path.
She hadn't gone very far when she met awolf. He trotted up, pretending to be friendly. "Good morning, RedRiding Hood. What have you got in your basket today?"
"I have some fresh butter and a cake,"replied the little girl. "They are for my grandmother, who lives inthe middle of the forest. She is ill and needs cheeringup."
The wolf licked his lips. "How I wouldlove to gobble up this little girl. But is I am clever, I can eather grandmother as well," he sniggered.
"Red Riding Hood," said the wolf slyly."We will both go to visit your grandmother and cheer her up. I'llrace you there!"
Then the clever wolf said to Red RidingHood, "You follow this path and I will find another one. Then we'llsee who reaches Grandmother's cottage first."
No sooner was Red Riding Hood out ofsight, than the wolf ran off at top speed.
As for Red Riding Hood, she wanderedslowly along the path picking flowers and wild strawberries for hergrandmother. She had forgotten all about the race.
The wicked wolf knew every secret path andshort cut in the forest. He ran so fast, the animals and birdsdidn't even notice him.
Quietly he crept round a clearing in thetrees where the woodcutter was chopping wood. On and on he raceduntil he came to the middle of the forest.
The wolf reached Grandmother's cottage innext to no time. He ran up the path and knocked on thedoor.
"Who is that?" cried Grandmother from herbed.
"It is Red Riding Hood," replied the wolf,in his softest voice.
"Lift the latch and come right in," theold lady called, "the door isn't locked, my dear."
The wolf bounded in and gobbled poorGrandmother whole!
"That was delicious," sighed the wickedwolf, smacking his lips. "Now for Red Riding Hood!"
The wolf looked around the bedroom. Hefound one of Grandmother's spare nightdresses and her nightcap, sohe put them on as fast as he could.
Then the wolf jumped into bed and waitedfor Red Riding Hood.
At last the little girl reached thecottage door and tapped very gently. "Who it it?" asked the wolf,trying to sound like Grandmother.
"It's Red Riding Hood and I've bought yousome cake and fresh butter."
The wolf grinned. "Lift the latch and walkright in," he croaked. So Red Riding Hood opened the door and cameinside.
"You sound very strange," called RedRiding Hood.
"I have a cold my dear!" the wolf replied."Come here so that I can see you."
Little Red Riding Hood was shocked whenshe saw her grandmother. "Why Grandmother, what strong arms youhave!" she said.
"All the better to hug you with!" repliedthe wolf.
"Why Grandmother, what big eyes you have!"said Red Riding Hood staring at him.
"All the better to see you with!" the wolfgrinned.
"Why Grandmother, what big teeth youhave!"
"All the better to EAT you with!" snarledthe wolf.
And with that, he threw back thebedclothes and leapt out of bed. Poor Red Riding Hood screamed atthe top of her voice as the wolf tried to grab her and gobble herup. She escaped from the bedroom and dashed out of the house, thehungry wolf close behind!
Now Red Riding Hood's father was choppingwood nearby and he heard the little girl's screams.
He grabbed his huge axe and ran towardsthe cottage. He saw the wolf chasing Red Riding Hood and guessedwhat had happened. The brave woodcutter raised his axe and choppedthe wolf in two with one blow. The wolf fell dead and Red RidingHood was saved.
The frightened little girl ran to herfather and kissed and hugged him.
But what a surprise they got when theyturned round ... there stood Grandmother safe and sound! Becausethe woodcutter had chopped the wolf in two, Grandmother was able toclimb out quite unharmed.
So all three went back inside the cottage.They unpacked the basket Red Riding Hood had brought and ate thedelicious cake.
Little Red Riding Hood never again wentwalking in Th. forest alone, and Grandmother took great care tolock her cottage door.