The Velveteen Rabbit & Other Stories - Margery Williams [11]
Returning to the field mouse’s den, Thumbelina was surprised to see her so excited. “We must start working on your wedding clothes, dear!” said the mouse. “The mole has asked to marry you. You’re a very lucky girl.” Thumbelina had no choice but to sew a wedding dress. She did not want to marry the mole and live in his underground tunnels. She would miss the sun and the sky, as well as the birds and butterflies who cheered her days last summer.
At last, it was her wedding day. Thumbelina asked permission to stand at the door and say farewell to the daylight. As she stood in the sunshine with her arms raised, she heard a familiar tweet tweet overhead. It was her dear swallow! And when he asked her now if she would come with him, she agreed. On and on he flew, until at last he landed near a beautiful lake where a dazzling white palace stood. His nest was among the top of the pillars, but he set Thumbelina down upon a flower of her choosing, where she would be safe.
To her surprise, a tiny man already stood on the flower, with a gold crown on his head and gossamer wings on his back. He was the prince of all flowers and ruled over all the tiny men and women who lived on each flower. The handsome fairy prince was delighted with Thumbelina, as she was the prettiest and sweetest girl he had ever met. He quickly put his crown on her head and asked her to be his wife. This bridegroom was different from the toad and the mole! Thumbelina agreed, and they celebrated their wedding that day. The swallow sang his loveliest song, and the other flower fairies came bearing wonderful gifts for their new princess. The best gift was a pair of fairy wings of her own, so that she could flit from flower to flower as well. Happiness had come to Thumbelina at last, and she and the prince rejoiced at their good fortune until the end of their days.
Little Red Riding Hood
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who lived in a cozy cottage near the edge of the woods with her mother. The girl liked to wear a red cloak with a hood. In fact, she wore it so much that soon she was known as Little Red Riding Hood.
One day her mother said, “Little Red, your grandmother is very sick. Bring her this basket of goodies but be very careful. Keep to the path and no matter what don’t talk to strangers.”
Little Red Riding Hood kissed her mother on the cheek. “Don’t worry, Mama. I’ll run all the way to Grandma’s without stopping.”
Little Red stayed on the path and spoke to no one…until she saw a bush full of raspberries. Raspberries were her grandma’s favorite! She began picking berries, unaware that a wicked wolf was watching her from the woods.
“What a nice snack she will make,” the wolf said under his breath. Just as he was about to pounce, the wolf heard the chopping sound of a woodsman working nearby. “Drat!” he muttered. He needed a plan.
“Where are you going, my pretty girl, all alone in the woods?” the wolf asked, with a toothy grin.
Little Red was so excited about the berries that she forgot her mother’s warning. “To see my grandmother!”
“Have you far to go?” asked the wolf.
“Yes,” said Little Red Riding Hood. “Her house is all the way on the other side of the woods.”
“Well, then,” the wolf said, with a little bow. “You had better be on your way.”
Little Red Riding Hood skipped down the trail. But the sneaky wolf knew a shortcut. He dashed through the woods until he was at Grandma’s door.
Knock! Knock!
“Who’s there?” cried Grandma from her bed.
“It’s me,” said the wolf, trying to make his voice sound soft and sweet. “It’s Little Red Riding Hood. I’ve brought you a basket of goodies.”
“Come in,” said Grandma.
The door opened, and a horrible shadow appeared on the wall. “Oh, my!” was all the poor old woman could say as