The Little Red Hen

From this longtime favorite we learn, as it says in the third chapter of Genesis, “By the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread.”

A little red hen once found a grain of wheat. “Who will plant this wheat?” she said.

“I won’t,” says the dog.

“I won’t,” says the cat.

“I won’t,” says the pig.

“I won’t,” says the turkey.

“Then I will,” says the little red hen. “Cluck! cluck!”

So she planted the grain of wheat. Very soon the wheat began to grow and the green leaves came up and the wheat plant was tall, strong, and ripe.

“Who will harvest this wheat?” says the little red hen.

“I won’t,” says the dog.

“1 won’t,” says the cat.

“I won’t,” says the pig.

“I won’t,” says the turkey.

“I will, then,” says the little red hen. “Cluck! cluck!”

So she harvested the wheat.

“Who will thresh this wheat?” says the little red hen.

“I won’t,” says the dog.

“I won’t,” says the cat.

“I won’t,” says the pig.

“I won’t,” says the turkey.

“I will, then,” says the little red hen. “Cluck! cluck!”

So she threshed the wheat.

“Who will take this wheat to mill to have it ground?” says the little red hen.

“I won’t,” says the dog.

“I won’t,” says the cat.

“I won’t,” says the pig.

“I won’t,” says the turkey.

“I will, then,” says the little red hen. “Cluck! cluck!”

So she took the wheat to mill, and by and by she came back with the flour.

“Who will bake this flour?” says the little red hen.

“I won’t,” says the dog.

“I won’t,” says the cat.

“I won’t,” says the pig.

“I won’t,” says the turkey.

“I will, then,” says the little red hen. “Cluck! cluck!”

So she baked the flour and made a loaf of delicious bread.

“Who will eat this bread?” says the little red hen.

“I will,” says the dog.

“I will,” says the cat.

“I will,” says the pig.

“I will,” says the turkey.

“No, I will,” says the little red hen. “Cluck! cluck!”

And she ate up the loaf of bread.

Retold by Penryhn W. Coussens