tion]

The Cock said the day was
too hot, and the Mouse grumbled
because it was too cold.

They came grumbling down
to the kitchen, where the good
little Red Hen, looking as bright
as a sunbeam, was bustling about.

"Who'll get some sticks to
light the fire with?" she asked.

"_I_ shan't," said the Cock.

"_I_ shan't," said the Mouse.

"Then I'll do it myself," said
the little Red Hen.

So off she ran to get the sticks.

[Illustration]

"And now, who'll fill
the kettle from the
spring?" she asked.

[Illustration]

"_I_ shan't,"
said the Cock.

"_I_ shan't," said
the Mouse.

[Illustration]

"Then I'll do it myself,"
said the little Red Hen.
And off she ran to
fill the kettle.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

"And who'll get the
breakfast ready?" she
asked, as she put the
kettle on to boil.

[Illustration]

"_I_ shan't,"
said the Cock.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

"_I_ shan't,"
said the Mouse.

"I'll do it myself,"
said the little Red Hen.

[Illustration]

All breakfast time the
Cock and the Mouse quarrelled
and grumbled. The
Cock upset the milk jug,
and the Mouse scattered
crumbs upon the floor

[Illustration]

"Who'll clear away the
breakfast?" asked the poor
little Red Hen, hoping

[Illustration]

they would soon leave
off being cross.

"_I_ shan't," said the Cock.

"_I_ shan't," said the Mouse.

"Then I'll do it myself,"
said the little Red Hen.

So she cleared everything
away, swept up the crumbs,
and brushed up the fireplace.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

"And now, who'll help
me to make the beds?"

"_I_ shan't," said the Cock.

"_I_ shan't," said the Mouse.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

"Then I'll do it myself,"
said the little Red Hen.

And she tripped away
upstairs.

But the lazy Cock and
Mouse each sat down in a
comfortable arm-chair by
the fire

[Illustration]

and soon fell
fast asleep.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

Now the bad Fox had
crept up the hill, and into
the garden, and if the Cock
and Mouse hadn't been
asleep, they would have seen
his sharp eyes peeping in
at the window.

"Rat tat tat, Rat tat tat",
the Fox knocked at the door.

[Illustration]

[Illustrati