THE FOx AND LITTLE RED HEN
A sly young fox lived with his mother in a den of rocks on a big hill.
One day he said, "Mother, have the big pot on the fire when I comehome to-night. I shall be bringing Little Red Hen for supper."Off he went, with a
bag on his back, tramp, tramp, over the hills, to the home of Little Red Hen.
****** Little Red Hen was picking up sticks for herfire, and she did not see the sly fox.
He popped in behind the door.
Then in came Little Red Hen with her apron
full of sticks. "I"m glad I"m safely in," she said.
She put the sticks on the fire, and locked the door.
"Oh, oh!" she said, "Who is this behind my door?"For there was the ugly fox, with his bushy tail on the floor, and his big bag on his back.
Up she flew to her perch, just under the roof. "I"ll get you!" said the fox, and he began tospin just like a top.
He spun, and spun, and spun, till Little Red Hen was giddy and fell to the floor.
Quickly he popped her in his bag, and set off for his den in the rocks.
****** Tramp, tramp, over the hills he went, andbump, bump, went Little Red Hen on his back.
"Oh, oh! I must think of a way to get out," she said to herself.
"He set off for his den."
By and by, while the fox was resting, she felt in her apron pocket.
Oh, there were her little scissors!
Snip, snip, she went, till she had cut a hole in the bag.
Out she jumped, picked up a large stone, and popped it in.
Then she ran, and ran, until she was safely in her little home.
******
On and on went the fox with his bumpy bag.
When he got near his den, he called out, "Here is Little Red Hen. Have you the pot on the fire?" "Yes, yes," said Mother Fox. " I" ll lift the lid,and you pop in the hen. Come close to the pot." She lifted the lid.
He lifted the bag.
Then in went the big stone.
Splash! splash! splash! came the hot water all over the foxes, and that was the end of them.
