THE HOUSE IN THE WOOD.

A poor woodman lived in a little house near a great wood. He had three little girls. The oldest one did not like to work. The second one did not do as she was told. But the youngest girl was good and kind. One morning the woodman went to work. He said to the oldest little girl, “Bring me my dinner to-day. I will drop seeds along the path. Then you can find the way.” When the sun was high the oldest girl went into the wood. But she lost her way, for the birds had picked up all the seeds. On and on she went until it was dark. At last she came to a little house in the wood. There was a light at the window.

She knocked at the door, “Tap, tap, tap!” “Come in!” said a deep voice. She went into the house. An old man was sitting at a table. Near him she saw a cock, a hen, and a spotted cow. “May I stop here all night?” said the oldest girl. The old man looked at the animals and said, “Pretty cock, Pretty hen, And you spotted cow, What say you now?” “Yes,” said the animals. The oldest girl cooked a good supper. Then she and the old man sat down at the table and ate it. But she did not think of the poor animals. After supper the animals said, “You eat and you drink, Of us you do not think. So you shall have no bed, To rest your tired head.” Then she had to find her way home alone through the dark wood.

The next morning the woodman went into the wood. He said to the second little girl, “Bring me my dinner to-day. I will drop larger seeds along the path. Then you can find the way.” At noon the second girl set out. But the blackbirds had picked up all the seeds. She went on and on through the wood. At night she came to the little house in the wood. “May I stop here all night?” said the second girl. “I have lost my way.” The old man said, “Pretty cock, Pretty hen, And you spotted cow, What say you now?” “Yes,” said the animals. The second girl cooked a good supper. Then she sat down and ate and drank with the old man. But the poor animals did not have any supper. So they said, “You eat and you drink, Of us you do not think. So you shall have no bed, To rest your tired head.” Then she, too, had to find her way home alone through the dark wood.

The next morning the woodman said to the youngest girl, “Bring me my dinner to-day. I will drop corn along the path. Then you can find your way.” At noon the youngest girl went into the wood. The doves had picked up the corn and she, too, lost her way. At night she saw a light and came to the house in the wood. “May I stop here all night?” she asked. The old man said to the animals, “Pretty cock, Pretty hen, And you spotted cow, What say you now?” “Yes,” said the three. The youngest girl went over to the animals and petted them. She cooked a good supper for the old man. But before she sat down to eat she gave the cow some hay. Then she gave the cock and the hen some corn. “Eat this, dear animals,” she said. “Then I will bring you some water.” After supper the animals said to the old man, “She is kind and good. Let her stay with us, In the house in the wood.”

Just then the youngest girl saw a bright light. She covered her eyes. When she looked up she was in a beautiful castle. The old man was gone. He was now a king’s son. The three animals had changed to three men. “You were kind and good to my animals,” said the king’s son. “So this is your castle.” Then the youngest girl sent for her father and sisters. They all lived happily together in the beautiful castle. Jacob and William Grimm (adapted).