One day she
wanted to go into the forest and fetch some food. So she called all seven
to her and said, "Dear children, I have to go into the forest, be on your
guard against the wolf; if he come in, he will devour you all---skin,
hair, and all. The wretch often disguises himself, but you will know
him at once by his rough voice and his black feet." The kids said, "Dear
mother, we will take good care of ourselves; you may go away without any
anxiety." Then the old one bleated, and went on her way with an easy mind.
It was not long before some one knocked at the house-door and called,
"Open the door, dear children; your mother is here, and has brought
something back with her for each of you." But the little kids knew
that it was the wolf, by the rough voice; "We will not open the door,"
cried they, "thou art not our mother. She has a soft, pleasant voice,
but thy voice is rough; thou art the wolf!" Then the wolf went away to a
shopkeeper and bought himself a great lump of chalk, ate this and made
his voice soft with it. The he came back, knocked at the door of the
house, and cried, "Open the door, dear children, your mother is here
and has brought something back with her for each of you.
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