The Beacon Second Reader Part 2

So the wolf put his one white foot on the window sill.

When the little kids saw that it was white, they thought this was really their mother, and they opened the door.

In jumped the ugly old wolf, and all the little kids ran to hide themselves.

The first hid under the table, the second in the bed, the third in the oven, the fourth in the kitchen, the fifth in the cupboard, the sixth under the washtub, and the seventh, who was the smallest of all, in the tall clock.

The wolf quickly found and gobbled up all but the youngest, who was in the clock.

Then the wolf, who felt sleepy, went out and lay down on the green gra.s.s.

Soon he was fast asleep.

THE WOLF AND THE SEVEN YOUNG KIDS--II

Not long after this the old goat came home from the woods.

Ah, what did she see! The house door was wide open; the tables and chairs were upset.

The washtub was broken in pieces, and the bed was tipped over.

"Where are my dear children?" cried the poor goat.

At last she heard a little voice crying, "Dear mother, here I am in the tall clock."

The old goat helped the little goat out.

Soon she learned how the wolf had eaten her dear children.

Then she went out of the hut, and there on the gra.s.s lay the wolf sound asleep.

As the goat looked at the wicked old wolf, she thought she saw something jumping about inside him.

"Ah," she said, "it may be that my poor children are still alive."

So she sent the little kid into the house for a pair of scissors and a needle and some thread.

She quickly cut a hole in the side of the wicked old wolf.

At the first snip of the scissors, one of the kids stuck out his head.

As the old goat cut, more and more heads popped out.

At last all six of the kids jumped out upon the gra.s.s.

They went hopping and skipping about their mother.

Then the old goat said to them, "Go and bring me some large stones from the brook."

The seven little kids ran off to the brook and soon came back with seven large stones.

They put these stones inside the wicked old wolf.

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The old goat sewed up the wolf's side so gently and quietly that he did not wake up nor move.

When at last the wicked wolf did wake up, the great stones inside him made him feel very heavy.

He was thirsty, too, so he walked down to the brook to drink.

The stones were so heavy that they tipped him over the edge of the bank into the deep water, and he was drowned.

WILLIAM AND JACOB GRIMM

THEY DIDN'T THINK

danger folks seized

Once a trap was baited With a piece of cheese; It tickled so a little mouse, It almost made him sneeze.

An old rat said, "There's danger, Be careful where you go!"

"Nonsense!" said the other, "I don't think you know!"

So he walked in boldly-- n.o.body in sight-- First he took a nibble, Then he took a bite; Close the trap together Snapped as quick as wink, Catching mousey fast there, 'Cause he didn't think.

Once there was a robin, Lived outside the door, Who wanted to go inside And hop upon the floor.

"No, no," said the mother, "You must stay with me; Little birds are safest Sitting in a tree."

"I don't care," said Robin, And gave his tail a fling, "I don't think the old folks Know quite everything."

Down he flew, and kitty seized him Before he'd time to blink; "Oh," he cried, "I'm sorry, But I didn't think."

PHOEBE CARY

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TOM THUMB--I

thumb people suit reins fought frightened brought thistledown

In the days of King Arthur, there lived a wise man named Merlin.