It was growing cold weather; the harvests were all in, the rains had begun, and grandmother was sitting by the stove, with her distaff and spindle and a basket of wool by her side. In came the little boy, settled himself in a snug place on the stove-top, and said, very coaxingly: "Tell me a story, little grandmamma!" The grandmother ceased the song she had been singing, and answered: "Shall I tell you about the Wolf that wanted to be a Roman?" "Oh, yes, yes!" exclaimed the little boy. "Tell me about the wolf!" So the grandmother began. THE WOLF AS A ROMAN Once upon a time, Isegrim, the Wolf, sat in the forest and thought to himself, "Why should I be a wolf and go around devouring the other beasts? It would be much better for me to go out into the world. What if I should go to Rome? Yes, that's it, I will be a Roman!" Off he set in the best of spirits, and on the way he met a Sow. The Sow bristled up in terror, but Isegrim cried out, "Don't be frightened, Gruntelind! I am done with Gruntelinds forever. I am going to be a Roman." Not long after he met a He-goat. The He-goat was greatly frightened when he saw Isegrim, but the Wolf cried out, "Don't be frightened, Longbeard! I'm not bothering myself with Longbeards. I am going to be a Roman." Next he met an old Mare. She was horribly frightened, but he quieted her, saying, "Don't be frightened, Skinny-bones! I don't waste my time with old jades like you. I am going to be a Roman." On went the Wolf for two whole days, when he began to feel a mighty hunger. So he turned back, and presently he came to the pasture where he had met the old Mare. Now was the Mare terrified. She quaked with fear, and well she might, for the Wolf said to her, "Mare, I am going to devour you!" "How dare you say so!" exclaimed the Mare. "You told me you were a Roman." "Roman here or Roman there," snarled Isegrim, "I am going to gnaw your bones." "Very well," returned the Mare; "if there is no help for it, come again by and by, when I am plumper and juicier." So the Wolf went on his way. Presently he met the He-goat. "Ho, Longbeard," cried he, "your time has come!" "I dare you to touch me!" replied the He-goat. "You are not a Wolf; you are a Roman." "Roman here or Roman there," retorted the Wolf, "I shall dine on you to-day." "What must be, must," replied the He-goat; "but since you are bound to eat me, just grant me life till the woods are green again." The Wolf was beguiled, and on he went till he met the Sow. "Listen to me, Gruntelind," said he; "I am going to make short work with you now." "You daren't do it," replied the Sow. "You are no Wolf; you are a noble Roman." "Roman here or Roman there," said the Wolf, "I am bound to eat you." "Very well," replied the Sow; "since you insist, come another day, when I am fatter." The Wolf consented, and away he went to look for that Mare again. "Listen now, Skinny-bones," said he; "you are to die on the spot."