The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats

At the edge of a green forest stood a cozy little cottage. In it lived a mother goat and her seven little kids. They were the happiest family you could imagine, playing hide-and-seek and munching sweet grass all day long. But their mother had one serious rule. "My dears," she would say, "when I go to the market, never open the door for anyone. The big bad wolf walks in these woods. You will know him by his rough, growly voice and his big black feet."

A Knock at the Door

One morning, the mother goat went to the market, and soon there came a loud knock at the door. "Open up, my little ones! It is your mother!" growled a rough voice. The seven little goats looked at each other and shook their heads. "That is not our mother's voice," said the eldest kid. "Our mother sings sweetly. You are the wolf! Go away!" The wolf was angry, but he had an idea. He chewed a piece of soft chalk, and his voice became smooth and gentle. Then he knocked again. "Open up, my darlings, it is your dear mother!" The kids listened carefully. "Your voice is soft now," said the youngest kid, "but let us see your paw under the door." The wolf pushed his big black paw under the door. "Black feet!" cried the kids. "You are the wolf! Go away!"

The Wolf Comes In

The wolf was very angry now. He ran to the miller and rolled his paws in white flour until they were as white as snow. Then he knocked a third time. "Open up, my little darlings!" he said in his soft new voice. The kids peeked under the door and saw a white paw. "It must be Mother!" they cried, and they opened the door. Oh no! In rushed the big bad wolf! The seven little kids ran to hide as fast as they could — one under the table, one under the bed, one in the cupboard, one in the stove, one in the washbasin, and one behind the curtain. The wolf gobbled up six of them, one after another. But the seventh, the tiniest one, hid inside the big clock on the wall, and the wolf could not find him. Then the wolf waddled out, lay down under a shady tree, and fell fast asleep, snoring loudly.

Mother Comes Home

When the mother goat came home, she found the door wide open and the cottage upside down. She called and called, and at last a tiny voice answered from inside the clock. The littlest kid jumped out and told her everything through his tears. "Quick!" said the mother. They hurried to the tree and found the wolf fast asleep, his tummy round and full. The mother took her scissors and, very carefully, cut open the wolf's tummy — and out jumped the six little kids, alive and happy! They filled the wolf's tummy with heavy stones and sewed it shut. When the wolf woke up feeling thirsty, he went to drink from the river, but the stones were so heavy that he tumbled in with a splash. He scrambled out and ran far, far away into the forest, never to be seen again. The seven little kids hugged their mother tight and promised, "We will always listen to you, Mother!"

Moral of the Story

Always listen to your parents' warnings, and never open the door to strangers.