THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.

 
  

HERE was an old woman who lived on a
hill. You never heard of any one smaller
or neater than she was. She always
wore a black dress anda large white apron

with big bows behind.

On her head was the queerest little red bonnet
that you ever saw.

It is a sad thing to tell, but this woman had
grown very selfish as the years went by.

People said this was because she lived alone
and thought of nobody but herself.

One morning as she was baking cakes, a tired,
hungry man came to her door.

“My good woman,” said he, “will you give me
one of your cakes? Iam very hungry. Ihave no
money to pay for it, but whatever you first wish for
you shall have.”

The old woman looked at her cakes and thought
that they were too large to give away. She broke
off a small bit of dough and put it into the oven to
bake.

When it was done she thought this one was too
nice and brown for a beggar.

She baked a smaller one and then a smaller one,
but each one was as nice and brown as the first.