little sir cat kills the wolf

"hello!" exclaimed little sir cat, "if that isn't little red riding hood." sure enough it was. just in front of him, tripping along the path, was a little girl dressed in a red cape and hood.

"may i help you carry your basket?" he asked politely.

"oh, dear!" screamed little red riding hood.

but when she saw little sir cat, she said, with a sigh of relief, "i thought you were the big gray wolf!"

well, pretty soon they reached her grandmother's house, and, knowing that old women usually like cats, little sir kitten made up his mind to be very nice indeed to little red riding hood's grandmother.

so he wiped his boots carefully on the doormat, and, with his cap held politely in his paw, waited in the hall while little red riding hood ran upstairs.

"come up, kitten," she called down in a few minutes; "grandma, wants to see you. hang your cap on the hat-rack."

then little red riding hood took hold of his paw, and led him into a sunny room, where in a big easy-chair by the window her grandmother sat knitting.

"come here, sir kitten, and let me see your nice red top boots," said her grandmother. "i always did like cats." and just then the little canary bird began to sing:

"look out for the big gray wolf, my dears.

he has long sharp teeth and pointed ears,

and he roams through the forest dark and dim.

be careful you don't get caught by him!"

so little red riding hood kissed her grandma good-by and with little sir cat started for home. but, oh, dear me! they had gone only a little way when they heard a noise.

"look," whispered little sir cat, "there's the wolf."

"what shall we do?" sobbed little red riding hood.

"trust to me," replied sir cat, "i have my trusty staff. but let's hurry," and taking hold of her hand they started off on a brisk run.

nearer and nearer came a dark shadow, and all of a sudden, with a dismal howl, the big gray wolf leaped on the path just in front of them. his cruel jaws were wide open and his long, white teeth snapped with a dreadful sound. but little sir cat wasn't afraid. he swung his staff and hit the big gray wolf a tremendous blow on the head.

"oh, you brave kitten!" she cried, "you have saved my life!" but sir cat merely smiled and said: "that's nothing, my dear; my father once killed an ogre!"

and then little sir cat once more set off to find his fortune, and pretty soon you will hear something more about him, if

a little dog doesn't tie a can

on the tip of his waggy tail,

and a tiny minnow in the brook

swallow a great big whale.