Red Riding Hood

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year
1863, by L. Prang & Co. in Clerk’s office of
the district court of Mass.

There was a lonely cabin
Within a dark, old wood,
And in it, with her mother
There dwelt Red Riding Hood.

The tall old trees above them
Their winter fire supplied
When Autumn’s flaming sunsets
From their red leaves had died.

The rippling brook, their water
From far off mountains brought;
And prattled of their summits
In icy statues wrought.

For them, the squirrels hoarded
Their nuts in hollow trees;
And pounds of sweetest honey
Were made them by the bees;

To gather these together
Was work enough to do;
Little Red Riding Hood thought so,
An so, no doubt, would you.

Blushing beneath her fingers
Looked up the berries red;
The flowers seemed to know her
And listened for her tread.

For she was good and loving
And beautiful as good,
With daily acts of kindness,
Little Red Riding Hood.

Afar off, in the forest,
There lived her grandam old;
And she was poor and needy,
And often sick and cold.

And once a week, her grandchild
Would walk the lonely wood,
And carry little bundles
Of faggots and of food.

One morn the mother started
The maid upon her way,
And said, “now you must carry
To grandmamma to day.”