will harm me. All the birds and animals love me and I love them.

Mother. Good-by, little daughter. Give me a kiss and take my love to dear grandmother.

Little Red Riding-Hood. Good-by, mamma: good-by!

Scene II.—In the Wood

Little Red Riding-Hood (singing).

How pretty it is here in the wood! Oh, what a lovely bed of moss! You must come with me, pretty green moss, to grandma's house. Good morning, pretty bird: will you sing to me this morning?

Bird. Yes, little Red Riding-Hood. I will sing to you because you love all the birds and can understand my song. Soon I'll show you my little birds who are just big enough to fly.

Little Red Riding-Hood. Thank you, dear bird, I shall be glad to see the cunning little things. But now I must hurry to grandmother's with the butter and the honey. Good-by!

Bird. Good-by, little friend! Chirp, chirp; chirp, chirp!

Little Red Riding-Hood. Now the little bird has flown away. I must put this moss in my basket and then hurry along—

Wolf. Ugh, ugh!

Little Red Riding-Hood. Oh! how you frightened me, Mister Wolf! Where did you come from?

Wolf. From my pretty cave, far, far in the dark wood, little girl. What is your name?

Little Red Riding-Hood. Why, don't you know me? I'm little Red Riding-Hood.

Wolf. I'm a stranger in this place, little girl; but I shall know you the next time I see you—ugh, ugh! What have you in your pretty basket, little Red Riding-Hood? It smells like honey.

Little Red Riding-Hood. It is honey, Mr. Wolf. I am taking it to my dear grandmother.

Wolf. Are you all alone in the wood, my child? Isn't your mother with you? Aren't you afraid?

Little Red Riding-Hood. Afraid? no, indeed! Why should I be afraid? All the animals are my friends.

Wolf. Oh, yes, of course they are all your friends! But is it far to your grandmother's house?

Little Red Riding-Hood. No, Mr. Wolf, only about half a mile. You go down this path to the mill and then turn to the right, and the first house you come to is my grandmother's. It's a little red house.

Wolf. Oh, that is very easy to find! But I know a shorter way through the wood. Let us run a race and see who will get there first.

Little Red Riding-Hood. All right, Mr. Wolf. Good-by!

Wolf. Ugh, ugh; good-by!

Little Red Riding-Hood. How fast he runs! I know he will win the race. How surprised dear grandma will be when Mr. Wolf knocks at the door! Now I see the mill. I will sing the pretty mill song we learned in school the other day.

[Begins to sing, then stops suddenly.]

Oh, there is the miller. Good morning, Mr. Miller! Have you seen Mr. Wolf go by?

Miller. No, little Red Riding-Hood. Have you seen a wolf in the wood?

Little Red Riding-Hood.