A Primary Reader | Page 4

almost frozen.
She took a match and lighted it to warm her hands. The match looked

like a little candle.
Gretchen thought she was sitting by a big stove. It was so bright.
She put the match near her feet, to warm them. Then the light went out.
She did not think that she was by the stove any more.
* * * * * * *
another dishes roast table cloth ready fork knife turkey
Gretchen lighted another match.
Now she thought she could look into a room. In this room was a table.
A white cloth and pretty dishes were on the table. There was a roast
turkey, too. It was cooked and ready to eat. The knife and fork were in
his back. The turkey jumped from the dish and ran to the little girl.
The light went out and she was in the cold and dark again.
Christmas candles many until
Gretchen lighted another match. Then she thought she was sitting by a
Christmas tree. Very many candles were on the tree. It was full of
pretty things.
Gretchen put up her little hands. The light went out.
The lights on the Christmas tree went up, up--until she saw they were
the stars.
* * * * * * *
grandma never before dying going been
Then she saw a star fall.
"Some one is dying," said little Gretchen.
Her grandma had been very good to the little girl. But she was dead.
The grandma had said, "When a star falls some one is going to God."
The little girl lighted another match. It made a big light.
Gretchen thought she saw her grandma. She never looked so pretty
before. She looked so sweet and happy.
* * * * * * *
take goes
"O grandma," said the little girl, "take me. When the light goes out you
will go away. The stove and the turkey and the Christmas tree all went
away."
Then Gretchen lighted a bunch of matches. She wanted to keep her
grandma with her. The matches made it very light.
The grandma took the little girl in her arms. They went up, up--where
they would never be cold or hungry.

They were with God.
* * * * * * *
found next burned dead froze death
The next day came.
Some men found a little girl in the street. She was dead.
In her hand were the burned matches.
They said, "Poor little thing, she froze to death."
They did not know how happy she was in heaven.

LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD.
six take cake coat butter basket hood always off
When May was six years old, her grandma made her a red coat with a
hood. She looked so pretty in it that the children all called her "Red
Riding-Hood."
One day her mama said, "I want you to take this cake and some butter
to grandma."
Red Riding-Hood was very glad to go. She always had a good time at
grandma's.
[Illustration: LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD AND HER MOTHER]
She put the things into her little basket and ran off.
* * * * * * *
wolf mill shall going first wood
When Red Riding-Hood came to the wood, she met a big wolf.
[Illustration: SHE MEETS THE WOLF.]
"Where are you going?" said the wolf.
Red Riding-Hood said, "I am going to see my grandma. Mama has
made her a cake and some butter."
"Does she live far?" said the wolf.
"Yes," said Red Riding-Hood, "in the white house by the mill."
"I will go too, and we shall see who will get there first," said the wolf.
* * * * * * *
short flowers soft stopped tapped pull pick voice string
The wolf ran off and took a short way, but Red Riding-Hood stopped to
pick some flowers.
When the wolf got to the house, he tapped on the door.
The grandma said, "Who is there?" The wolf made his voice as soft as
he could. He said, "It is little Red Riding-Hood, grandma."

Then the old lady said, "Pull the string and the door will open."
The wolf pulled the string and the door opened.
He ran in and ate the poor old lady.
Then he jumped into her bed and put on her cap.
* * * * * * *
tapped thank dear
arms hug called
When Red Riding-Hood tapped on the door, the wolf called out, "Who
is there?" Red Riding-Hood said, "It is your little Red Riding-Hood,
grandma."
Then the wolf said, "Pull the string and the door will open."
When she went in, she said, "Look, grandma, see the cake and butter
mama has sent you."
"Thank you, dear, put them on the table and come here."
* * * *