THE THREE LITTLE PIGS.

A mother pig had three little pigs. Browny was a dirty pig. He liked to roll in the mud. Whitey was a greedy pig. She would eat and eat and then cry for more. Blacky was a good pig. He was bright and happy all day long.

One day the mother pig called the three pigs to her and said, “Browny! What kind of a house would you like?” “I should like to have a mud house, Mother dear,” said Browny. “And you, Whitey! What kind of a house shall I make for you?” said the mother. “Oh, I should like a great big cabbage house, Mother!” said Whitey. “Blacky dear! What kind of a house would you like?” said the mother pig. “A brick house, please, Mother,” said Blacky. So the good mother pig made three houses. Then the three little pigs went to live in them. As they were going away the mother pig said, “If Mr. Fox comes to see you, do not let him in. He is not a friend.”

Browny was very happy in his mud house. One day there came a “Tap, tap!” at the door. A soft voice said, “Little pig! Little pig! Let me come in.” “Who are you?” said Browny. “I am a friend of your mother’s,” said the soft voice. “I want to see your pretty house.” “Oh, no!” said Browny. “You are not a friend. You are Mr. Fox. You can not come in.” Then Mr. Fox made a hole in the mud house. He put Browny into a bag and carried him away to his den.

The next day the old fox went to Whitey’s house. Greedy little Whitey was eating the cabbage that her house was made of. “Tap, tap!” came a knock at the door. Then a soft voice said, “Little pig! Little pig! Let me come in.” “Who are you?” said Whitey. “A friend of your mother’s,” said Mr. Fox. “I have something good for you to eat.” “No, no! You can not come in. You are not a friend,” said Whitey. Then Mr. Fox ate a big hole in the cabbage house.

He put Whitey into a bag and carried her to his den.

The next day the fox went to Blacky’s house. “Tap, tap!” came a knock at the door. “Little pig! Little pig! Let me come in,” said a soft voice. “Who are you?” said Blacky. “I am a friend of your mother’s,” said Mr. Fox. “Oh, no! You are not,” said Blacky. “You can not come in. You carried away Whitey and Browny. You are not going to get me.” Then Mr. Fox tried to knock down the house. But he could not get into Blacky’s strong brick house.

The next day Blacky went to town to get a big kettle. As he came back he saw Mr. Fox in the woods. “Oh, what shall I do!” said Blacky. He had just come to the top of a hill. At the foot of the hill he could see his strong brick house. Blacky got into the kettle. It rolled over and over down the hill. At the door of the brick house Blacky jumped out.

Blacky ran into the house as fast as he could go. He put the kettle full of water over the fire. Mr. Fox was afraid when he saw the big black kettle rolling down the hill. When he saw Blacky jump out of the kettle he said, “O ho! I will have you now.” He ran down to Blacky’s house. He tried the door but he could not get in. Then he went down the chimney. He fell into the kettle of hot water. Then Blacky went to get Whitey and Browny. Mr. Fox had carried them to his den in the woods. After that they all lived together in Blacky’s strong brick house.