CHILDREN'S STORY - FRANCE

Little Red Riding Hood

Once upon a time there lived in a certain village a little country girl, the prettiest creature who was ever seen. Her mother was excessively fond of her; and her grandmother doted on her still more. This good woman had a little red riding hood made for her. It suited the girl so extremely well that everybody called her Little Red Riding Hood.

One day her mother, having made some cakes, said to her, Go, my dear, and see how your grandmother is doing, for I hear she has been very ill. Take her a cake, and this little pot of butter. Little Red Riding Hood set out immediately to go to her grandmother, who lived in another village. As she was going through the wood, she met with a wolf, who had a very great mind to eat her up, but he dared not, because of some woodcutters working nearby in the forest. He asked her where she was going. The poor child, who did not know that it was dangerous to stay and talk to a wolf, said to him, I am going to see my grandmother and carry her a cake and a little pot of butter from my mother. Does she live far off? said the wolf. Oh I say, answered Little Red Riding Hood; it is beyond that mill you see there, at the first house in the village. Well, said the wolf, and I'll go and see her too. I'll go this way and go you that, and we shall see who will be there first. The wolf ran as fast as he could, taking the shortest path, and the little girl took a roundabout way, entertaining herself by gathering nuts, running after butterflies, and gathering bouquets of little flowers.

It was not long before the wolf arrived at the old woman's house. He knocked at the door: tap, tap. Who's there? Your child, Little Red Riding Hood, replied the wolf, counterfeiting her voice; who has brought you a cake and a little pot of butter sent you by mother. The good grandmother, who was in bed, because she was somewhat ill, cried out, Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up. The wolf pulled the bobbin and the door opened, and then he immediately fell upon the good woman and ate her up in a moment, for it been more than three days since he had eaten.

He then shut the door and got into the grandmother's bed, expecting Little Red Riding Hood, who came some time afterwards and knocked at the door: tap, tap. Who's there? Little Red Riding Hood, hearing the big voice of the wolf, was at first afraid; but believing her grandmother had a cold and was hoarse, answered, It is your child Little Red Riding Hood, who has brought you a cake and a little pot of butter mother sends you. The wolf cried out to her (softening his voice as much as he could) pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up. Little Red Riding Hood pulled the bobbin and the door opened.

The wolf, seeing her come in, said to her, hiding himself under the bedclothes, Put the cake and the little pot of butter upon the stool, and come get into bed with me. Little Red Riding Hood took off her clothes and got into bed. She was greatly amazed to see how her grandmother looked in her nightclothes, and said to her, Grandmother, what big arms you have! All the better to hug you with, my dear. Grandmother, what big legs you have! All the better to run with, my child. Grandmother, what big ears you have! All the better to hear with, my child. Grandmother, what big eyes you have! All the better to see with, my child. Grandmother, what big teeth you have got! All the better to eat you up with. And, saying these words, this wicked wolf fell upon Little Red Riding Hood, and ate her all up.

Moral Children,Especially attractive, well bred young ladies, Should never talk to strangers, For if they should do so, they may well provide dinner for a wolf. I say wolf, but there are various kinds of wolves. There are also those who are charming, Quiet, polite, unassuming, complacent, and sweet, Who pursue young women at home and in the streets. And unfortunately, it is these gentle wolves Who are the most dangerous ones of all.

Réécriture collective d’un conte traditionnel

 

Le petit chaperon rouge

 

Il était une fois, dans un village paisible, une charmante petite fille qu’on surnommait : « le petit chaperon rouge ». On l’appelait ainsi, car sa mère lui avait fait faire une  cape de soie rouge qui lui allait à merveille.

Un jour,  sa maman lui demanda de lui rendre un petit service :

« Ta grand-mère est malade, pourrais-tu lui apporter cette galette et ce petit pot de beurre ? »

Sans hésiter un instant, la fillette se saisit du panier que sa maman lui tendait en répondant :

« Avec plaisir, donne-moi mon chaperon et j’y vais de ce pas. »

                Comme la grand-mère habitait de l’autre côté de la forêt, l’enfant s’aventura  dans le  sentier qui traversait le bois. Malheureusement, elle rencontra le loup.

« Où vas-tu délicieuse enfant ?

-Je vais rendre visite à ma  grand-mère qui est malade, répondit la fillette qui ne se méfiait pas des loups.

- Mais où habite ta pauvre mamie ?

-Sa maison se trouve près du moulin qu’on aperçoit au loin.

-J’aimerais bien la voir aussi, proposa l’animal. Prends ce chemin-ci et moi je prendrai celui-là, et nous verrons bien qui arrivera le premier. »

                Bien entendu, il avait choisi le chemin le plus court. Tandis que le petit chaperon rouge prenait son temps en cueillant des fleurs et des noisettes, l’animal rusé s’empressa de se rendre à la bonne adresse. Arrivé le premier à destination, il frappa à la porte de la maisonnette.

« Qui est là ? demanda la grand-mère en toussant.

-C’est moi, le petit chaperon rouge ! répondit le loup de sa plus petite voix.  Je vous apporte une galette et un petit pot de beurre de la part de maman.

-Pour entrer, tire la chevillette et la bobinette cherra ! proposa la mamie qui ne pouvait quitter son lit pour ouvrir la porte. »

                Le loup affamé entra et se précipita sur la pauvre dame sans défense, et n’en fit qu’une bouchée. Puis il prit place dans le lit de la victime. A cet instant, on frappa à la porte, c’était la fillette qui venait d’arriver.

  « Qui est là ? interrogea l’animal.

-C’est moi, le petit chaperon rouge ! rétorqua l’enfant.  Je vous apporte une galette et un petit pot de beurre de la part de maman.

-Pour entrer, tire la chevillette et la bobinette cherra ! reprit le loup en imitant la grand-mère. »

La petite fille tira alors sur la chevillette et la porte s’ouvrit.

« Pose ton panier, ma petite, et viens te coucher près de moi, proposa le vilain.

-Avec plaisir mamie…. Mais que vous avez de grands bras ? s’inquiéta le petit chaperon rouge qui avait retiré sa cape.

-C’est pour mieux t’embrasser, mon enfant !

- Mère-grand, que vous avez de grandes jambes ?

-C’est pour mieux courir, mon enfant !

- Mère-grand, que vous avez de grandes oreilles ?

-C’est pour mieux t’entendre, mon enfant !

- Mère-grand, que vous avez de grands yeux ?

-C’est pour mieux te voir, mon enfant !

- Mère-grand, que vous avez de grandes dents ?

-C’est pour mieux te manger, mon enfant !rugit le loup en se jetant sur le pauvre petit chaperon rouge, qu’il dévora furieusement. »

MORALITE :

Alors, si vous êtes une jolie petite fille, il faut vous méfier des mauvaises rencontres, et surtout de celles qui semblent vous inspirer confiance.