Many fairies, I have heard, Are dwelling in the wood,
But I am sure none is so fair
As Little Red Riding Hood!
 
 
 
The next day it rained and rained. Mama Bear said: "No one shall go out."
 
So they all brought their chairs and sat by the fire.
 
"Please tell us a story," shouted  all the small Bears.
 
Red Riding Hood began: "I go out in the woods every day, and I have never been afraid in my life except once."
 
"That was when you went to visit your grand­mother," said Curly Bear.
 
Red Riding Hood went on: "I tapped on the door and the old wolf said: 'Come in!'
 
"You said: 'Grandmother, what great ears you have, '" shouted all the Bears.
 
"And, 'Grandmother, what great eyes you have,"' whispered Little Bear.
 
"I have almost forgotten about it," said Red Riding Hood, "it happened so long ago."
 
"What became of the wolf?" asked Papa Bear.
 
"The wood-choppers frightened him away," said Red Riding Hood.
 
"How is it you do not grow old?" asked Mama Bear.
 
Little Red Riding Hood blushed rosy red. She was such a sweet little girl! She looked very young in her short dress.
 
"I should think you would be afraid of the woods," said Papa Bear. "There is Bushy Tail. He is such a sly fellow."
 
Red Riding Hood laughed. She said: "None of the animals dares to harm me."
 
"I want a cookie," said one little Bear.
 
"I want a cookie," said the next lit­tle Bear.
 
Red Riding Hood went to get her basket of cookies.
 
The Bears all followed her, and they set up a great howl.
 
What do you suppose had hap­pened? The basket was empty.
 
"Who stole the cookies?" asked Mama Bear, and "who stole the cook­ies?" asked Papa Bear.
 
"Oh, oh, oh!" cried all the little Bears. "We want some cookies! We want some coo............