Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-04
From the Little Corporal tor Deeember.
The Rhyme Is Little Red IsiCs-
TughORl.

The Rhyme os Little Red EsiCs-
ingfaOOd.
Founded on the popular Legend. and VI.
II. Beard Painting now in the possession Of
Alfred L. Sewell, publisher OF the LiAie
Corporal.
I.
Fast by sombre forest stood,
With rough. brown walls and oaken floor,
And ivy clambering DER the door,
The cottage of Red Ridinghood.
II. ~
put on thy hood" the mother said,
And take the little butter jar
And basket full of goodies rare
To grandame, lying sick in bed.
III.
"And hasten through the darksome wood,
And tsrry not upon the way; t-
And when you reach the door you II say,
'Grandame, it is Red Ridinghood,'
".
The little maid, with merry tread,
The welcome errand glad to do,
Pushed back the brown curls from her brow
And donned the riding hood of red;
~.
The crock of butter quickly took;
One chubby hand the brown jar grasped,
While one the basket handle clasped.
As on the stones she crossed the brook.
VI.
But when she reached the lonesome wood,
Meath spreading elm and gnarled oak, 81
And shuddering at the ravens croak,
Crept timid, little Ridinghood
VII.
And deeper still the shadows grew:
The falling acorn made her start,
The deepening shadows aehed her heart
Her frightened feet the faster flew,
VIII.
Till peering right and left she found,
Fast by the roots of old oak tree,
W What made her hair stand uIrto see,
A gloomy opening in the ground.
.-...r TX.
Frightened. but curious still she sid.
"I'll peep in there, and l shall kno,y
What It's that makes the oak tree grow,
And how the roots and rocks are mad"
Alas poor. thorgbtless Ridinghood I
Did not thy careful mother say,
ITO tarry not upon the way,
But hasten through the lonesome wood?"
Fer soon from out the cave there came
A wolf, that bowed and softly said
NOW, pretty miss. with hood so red,
Where do you go? and whats your name?'
XII.
She dropped her basket in the road,
Her heart beat loud with fear and pain
She wished that she were home again,
In the brown cottage by the wood.
XIII.
But the were-wolfs voice was soft in sooth:
He called her pretty, called her good
sked where she was going thro' the wood /;
(The smoothest tongue hides sharpest tooth)
"8Ty name is little Red Ridinghood,"
With quivering voice the maiden said
My giandame is lying sick IN bed,
I'm going to take her something good.
XIV.
"And when reach my grandames home,
~ hos there?' she'll say, I'll answer loud,
'Grandame. your little Red Ridinghood,'
Then lift the latch, she Il say, and come. :"
XVI.
"wel." said the wolf5"you're young and
strong,
Here are two paths. let's run race.
And see which shalt first reach the place
You take the short road, tie long"
XVII.
Twas a shabby trick as ever was play
He took the short road, gave her the long
Aud with his four legs, fleet and strong,
The willy rascal outran the maid.
XVIII.
lie knocked at the door Of the grandame S
home,
"Who's theron" she said /; he answered loud,
"Grandame. your little Red Ridinghood."
"Then lift the latch, she said, land come. "
XIX.
A little while later. and Rcd Ridinghood
Came painting and putting with basket and
Jar;
The path she had taken had carried her far
She laughed to think she was first through
the weed.
enc KNOCKED AT the door OF the gTanualnS
home,
"Who's there?" said the wolf she answered
loud, -t ....
"Grandmame. it's your little Red Riding
Then lift the latch" he said, "and come. y
XXI.
Little Red Ridinghood entered the Dom,
! The were wolf lay in grandame's bod.
In grUndame's feeble voice lac said.
Put down your things, my dear, and GENE
AAIl. end. ll.i.
"Come and lie down by me-" he said,
Lie down awhile and take nap
The wolf was wearing grandame's cap
And spectacles on his wo!fsh head!
XXIII. ...al :,
Once IN the bed she began TO talk ~
Aud feeling the hideous, wolish claws. sM
Sud, "Grandame, why do you have sucl
paws?" usn1H
'Of course, my, dear, the better to walk.
XIV. aa 1eru
"And, grandatne, why are your eyes SC
bright?
And your nose long?" "My nose is to smell
My eyes are SO bright that l see quite well
/. In midst of the very darkest night"
XIV.