The Little Red Hen There was once a Little Red Hen that lived
in a farmyard. Most of her days were spent scratching about the farmyard pecking the
ground with her beak as she hunted for worms for herself and her little chicks.
There were other animals in the farmyard. In particular a lazy cat, who spent much of
her time sleeping, not even bothering herself to scare the little rat who ran up and down.
Then there was the pig in the sty who didn't care about much else than eating and growing
fat. One day the Little Red Hen found an ear of
corn and was extremely excited. She knew that it must be planted so that it could grow and
be made into flour to make bread. She showed the ear of corn to the other animals in the
farmyard. “Who will help me to plant this corn?” she asked.
But the Pig said, “Not I,” and the Cat said, “Not I,”
and the Rat said, “Not I.”
“Well, then,” said the Little Red Hen, “I will plant this corn all by myself.”
And she did. After that The Little Red Hen carried out
her days as usual, scratching and hunting for worms and looking after her chicks. She
watered and cared for the corn every day. In the meantime the lazy cat continued to
nap, and the rat and the lazy pig grew fat. The corn grew and grew and soon it was ready
for harvest. “Who will help me to cut the corn?” asked
the little red hen. “Not I,” said the Pig
, “Not I,”said the Cat “Not I.” answered the Rat
“Well, then,” said the Little Red Hen, “I will cut the
corn all by myself.” And she did.
When the corn was cut, the Little Red Hen knew that it must go to the mill to be ground
into flour.
“Who will help me to carry the corn to the mill ?” she asked
The lazy animals turn their backs on the Little Red Hen.,
“Not I,” said the cat “Not I” said the rat
“Not I” said the Pig “Well then, I must carry the corn by myself”
said the Little Red Hen. And she did. Carrying the sack of corn, she set off for
the mill. Once there she asked for the corn to be ground into soft white flour. She waited
until the miller brought her the flour and then she headed back to the farmyard, pecking
along the way. The next morning the little Red Hen woke up
ready to turn the flour into bread. “Who will help me to make the bread?”
she asked the animals
“Not I” answered the plump pig “Not I” said the sleepy cat
“Not I” said the lazy rat “Then I will have to make this bread all
by myself” said the Little Red Hen. And she did.
First she mixed and kneaded the dough. Then she put it into baking tins and set them in
the oven to bake. The little rat sat by and watched as the busy hen worked. The cat lazily
preened his paws and the pig dozed in the distance.
Soon the bread was ready and the delicious smell of fresh bread spread all over the farmyard.
The animals were all licking their lips.
Done all the work on this wonderful bread?
“Who will eat the Bread?” Asked the little red hen
, “I will,” said the pig , “I will,” said the cat
“I will.” Said the rat But the Little Red Hen said,
“No, you won't. I will.” And she did.