"Oh! thank you, good sir Wolf," said she, And dropt a pretty courtesie: The little maid then onward hied, And sought the blue bell mountain side. The wolf sped on o'er marsh and moor, And faintly tapp'd at granny's door: "Oh! let me in, grandmummy good, For I am small red riding hood." "The bobbin pull (the grandam cried), The door will then fly open wide." The crafty wolf the bobbin drew, And straight the door wide open flew. He pac'd the bed room eight times four, And utter'd thrice a hideous roar; He pac'd the bed room nine times three, And then devour'd poor grandmummie. He dash'd her brains out on the stones, He gnaw'd her sinews, crack'd her bones; He munch'd her heart, he quaff'd her gore, And up her lights and liver tore.[41]!!!! Grandmummy's bed he straight got in, Her night-cap tied beneath his chin; And, waiting for his destin'd prey, All snug between the sheets he lay. Now at the door a voice heard he, Which cried ... "I've brought you custards three; Oh! let me in, grandmummy good, For I am small red riding hood." "The bobbin pull (the wolf king cried), The door will then fly open wide." The little dear the bobbin drew, And straight the door wide open flew.[42] She plac'd the custards on the floor, And sigh'd ... "I wish I'd brought you _four_.[43] I'm very tir'd, dear grandmummie; Oh! may I come to bed to thee?" "Oh come! (the wolf king softly cried), And lie, my sweet one, by my side:" Ah! little thought the child so gay The cruel wolf king near her lay! "Oh! tell me, tell me, granny dear, Why does your _voice_ so gruff appear?" "Oh! hush, sweetheart (the wolf king said), I've got a small cold in my head!" "Oh! tell me, grandmummie so kind, Why you've a _tail_ grows out _behind_?" "Oh! hush thee, hush thee, pretty dear, My pincushion I hang on there!" "Why do your _eyes_ so glare on me?" "They are your pretty face to see." "Why do your _ears_ so long appear?" "They are your pretty voice to hear." "Oh! tell me, granny, why to-night Your teeth appear so long and white?"[44] Then, growling, cried the wolf so grim, "They are to tear you limb from limb!" His hungry teeth the wolf king gnash'd, His sparkling eyes with fury flash'd, He op'd his jaws all sprent with blood, And fell on small red riding hood. He tore her bowels out one and two, "Little maid, I will eat you!" But when he tore out three and four, The little maid she was no more! Take warning hence, ye children fair; Of wolves' insidious arts beware; And, as you pass each lonely wood, Ah! think of small red riding hood! With custards sent, nor loiter slow, Nor gather blue bells as you go; Get not to bed with grandmummie, Lest she a ravenous wolf should be!