The Little Red Hen | Page 2

the Pig, with a grunt, said, "Not I," and the Cat, with a meow, said, "Not I," and the
Rat, with a squeak, said, "Not I."
So the Little Red Hen, looking, it must be admitted, rather discouraged, said, "Well, I will,
then."
And she did.

Of course, she had to feed her babies first, though, and when she had gotten them all to
sleep for their afternoon nap, she went out and threshed the Wheat. Then she called out:
"Who will carry the Wheat to the mill to be ground?"
[Illustration: ]
Turning their backs with snippy glee, that Pig said, "Not I,"
[Illustration: ]
[Illustration: ]
[Illustration: ]
[Illustration: ]
and that Cat said, "Not I," and that Rat said, "Not I."
[Illustration]
So the good Little Red Hen could do nothing but say, "I will then." And she did.
Carrying the sack of Wheat, she trudged off to the distant mill. There she ordered the
Wheat ground into beautiful white flour. When the miller brought her the flour she
walked slowly back all the way to her own barnyard in her own picketty-pecketty
fashion.
[Illustration: ]
[Illustration: ]
[Illustration: ]
She even managed, in spite of her load, to catch a nice juicy worm now and then and had
one left for the babies when she reached them. Those cunning little fluff-balls were so
glad to see their mother. For the first time, they really appreciated her.
[Illustration: ]
[Illustration:]
After this really strenuous day Mrs. Hen retired to her slumbers earlier than usual--indeed,
before the colors came into the sky to herald the setting of the sun, her usual bedtime
hour.
She would have liked to sleep late in the morning, but her chicks, joining in the morning
chorus of the hen yard, drove away all hopes of such a luxury.
Even as she sleepily half opened one eye, the thought came to her that to-day that Wheat

must, somehow, be made into bread.
[Illustration]
She was not in the habit of making bread, although, of course, anyone can make it if he or
she follows the recipe with care, and she knew perfectly well that she could do it if
necessary.
So after her children were fed and made sweet and fresh for the day, she hunted up the
Pig, the Cat and the Rat.
[Illustration]
Still confident that they would surely help her some day she sang out, "Who will make
the bread?"
[Illustration: ]
Alas for the Little Red Hen! Once more her hopes were dashed! For the Pig said, "Not I,"
[Illustration: ]
the Cat said, "Not I," and the Rat said, "Not I."
[Illustration: ]
[Illustration: ]
So the Little Red Hen said once more, "I will then," and she did.
Feeling that she might have known all the time that she would have to do it all herself,
she went and put on a fresh apron and spotless cook's cap. First of all she set the dough,
as was proper. When it was time she brought out the moulding board and the baking tins,
moulded the bread, divided it into loaves, and put them into the oven to bake. All the
while the Cat sat lazily by, giggling and chuckling.
[Illustration: ]
And close at hand the vain Rat powdered his nose and admired himself in a mirror.
[Illustration]
In the distance could be heard the long-drawn snores of the dozing Pig.
[Illustration: ]
At last the great moment arrived. A delicious odor was wafted upon the autumn breeze.
Everywhere the barnyard citizens sniffed the air with delight.

[Illustration: ]
[Illustration: ]
The Red Hen ambled in her picketty-pecketty way toward the source of all this
excitement.
[Illustration: ]
Although she appeared to be perfectly calm, in reality she could only with difficulty
restrain an impulse to dance and sing, for had she not done all the work on this wonderful
bread?
[Illustration: ]
[Illustration: ]
Small wonder that she was the most excited person in the barnyard!
She did not know whether the bread would be fit to eat, but--joy of joys!--when the
lovely brown loaves came out of the oven, they were done to perfection.
[Illustration: ]
Then, probably because she had acquired the habit, the Red Hen called: "Who will eat the
Bread?"
[Illustration: ]
All the animals in the barnyard were watching hungrily and smacking their lips in
anticipation, and the Pig said, "I will," the Cat said, "I will," the Rat said, "I will."
But the Little Red Hen said,
[Illustration:]
[Illustration:]
"No, you won't. I will."
And she did.
[Illustration: ]
[Illustration]
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End of Project Gutenberg's The Little Red Hen, by