Little Red Riding Hood With a New Ending.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue VII, 14 February 1903, Page 475

Little Red Riding Hood With a New Ending.

’Twas a lovely morning when through the wood Off went little Red Riding Hood With a basket full of the nicest tilings, Cakes and honey and chickens’ wings, To take to her grandma old and grey, At her cot in the wood, this festive day. So she tripped along In her crimson cowl, When right in her path.she heard a growl, And with gleaming teeth a grey wolf,stood, And snarled at Little Red Riding Hood. ’’Where do you go, my child?’’ he said. “With sweets to my grandma, sick in bed. You surely won’t cat me up, I knowPlease, Mr Wolf, do let me go.” She turned aside with a frightened air And ran; and the wolf stood blinking there. But only a moment. Then he llew With powerful strides the forest through. He reached the cottage ahead of her; He forced the door, but he heard no stir As he peered and pried and peeked about. For Granny, by chance, had just gone out. ’’Aha,” said the Wolf, “i’ll don her cap, And her night gown white, and pretend to nap, „ And when Red Riding Hood comes—Oho; I'll eat her up and her sweets, also.” So he donned the gown and the ribboned cap And Jumped in lied as there came a rap; And in walked Little Rod Riding Hood With her basket brimming with scrumptious food. “Oh, Granny,” she said, as the Wolf she spied, ... “Your eyes shine bright—and they re big and wide.” "The better to see you with, my dear,” Said the cruel Wolf, “Won’t you please come near?” “But your voice is hoarse.” “I’ve a cold,” he said. “And how large your teeth. Then be jumped from bed As “The better to eat you with, he cried. Just at that moment the door flew wide. And into the room ran Grandma grey, And I wish I’d been there to see tile way She went tor the Wolf. The blows fell thick On his tawny hide, from her walking stick. “I’ll teach you to wear my gown," she said, , _ “And crumple the sheets on my nice, clean “Oh, stop,** cried the Wolf, “and I’ll be good To you and Little Red Riding Hood. I'll be your slave, and I’ll guard your house — I’ll frighten away each rat and mouse. “Well, see that you do,” the dame replied. So they chained the wolf to a post outside. He never growls, but if after dark A tramp appears, how that wolf can bark. He's learned such tricks. He will sit and beg For a sugar lump or a turkey’s leg. In fact. If you by the house should jog To-day, you'd think ho was just a dog.