There was once upon a time an old goat who had seven little kids,and loved them with all the love of a mother for her children. Oneday she wanted to go into the forest and fetch some food. So she calledall seven to her and said: «Dear children, I have to go into theforest, be on your guard against the wolf; if he comes in, he willdevour you all—skin, hair, and everything. The wretch often disguiseshimself, but you will know him at once by his rough voice and hisblack feet.» The kids said: «Dear mother, we will take good care ofourselves; you may go away without any anxiety.» Then the old onebleated, and went on her way with an easy mind.
It was not long before someone knocked at the house-door and called:«Open the door, dear children; your mother is here, and has broughtsomething back with her for each of you.» But the little kids knew thatit was the wolf, by the rough voice. «We will not open the door,’cried they, «you are not our mother. She has a soft, pleasant voice,but your voice is rough; you are the wolf!» Then the wolf went awayto a shopkeeper and bought himself a great lump of chalk, ate thisand made his voice soft with it. Then he came back, knocked at thedoor of the house, and called: «Open the door, dear children, yourmother is here and has brought something back with her for each ofyou.» But the wolf had laid his black paws against the window, and thechildren saw them and cried: «We will not open the door, our mother hasnot black feet like you: you are the wolf!» Then the wolf ran to abaker and said: «I have hurt my feet, rub some dough over them forme.» And when the baker had rubbed his feet over, he ran to the millerand said: «Strew some white meal over my feet for me.» The millerthought to himself: «The wolf wants to deceive someone,» and refused;but the wolf said: «If you will not do it, I will devour you.» Thenthe miller was afraid, and made his paws white for him. Truly, this isthe way of mankind.
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