The Hungry Wolf
Wolf was hungry and went to find some dinner. As he walked he saw a large Cow. "Miss Cow, Miss Cow, I am going to eat you!" said the Wolf.
"Who are you?" asked the Ram. "I would like to know who you are if you are going to eat me."
"I am a Wolf, a very hungry Wolf. I am going to eat you."
"You are not a Wolf. You are a dog," said the Cow.
"I am not a dog! I am a Wolf, and I am going to eat you."
The Cow said, "Very well. If you are a Wolf, I will have to let you eat me. Stand at the bottom of the hill and open your mouth very wide. I will run down the hill and jump into your mouth."
The Wolf stood at the bottom of the hill and opened his mouth wide. The Cow climbed to the top of the hill. Then she ran down the hill as fast as she could. She lowered her horns and knocked the Wolf all of the way down the hill.
The Wolf got up. "I do not think I am hungry for a Cow," said the Wolf. He walked away to find something else to eat. Just then he saw a horse.
"Mr. Horse, Mr. Horse, I am going to eat you," said the Wolf.
"Who are you?" asked the Horse. "I would like to know who you are if you are going to eat me."
"I am a Wolf," said the Wolf.
"You are not a Wolf. You are a dog," said the Horse.
"I am not a dog! I am a Wolf, and I am going to eat you."
"Very well," said the Horse. "If you are a Wolf, I will have to let you eat me. But, I am very thin. Start eating me from my tail. I will keep eating grass to get fatter while you eat me."
The Wolf walked up behind the Horse. He opened his mouth to take his first bit of the Horse's tail. The Horse kicked the Wolf in the mouth with his hind legs. The Wolf rolled all the way down the hill.
"I do not think I am hungry for a Horse," said the Wolf. He walked away to find something else to eat. Just then he saw a Pig.
"Mr. Pig, Mr. Pig, I am going to eat you," said the Wolf.
"You are not a Wolf. You are a dog," said the Horse.
"I am not a dog! I am a Wolf, and I am going to eat you."
"Very well," said the Pig. "If you are a Wolf, I will have to let you eat me. But, first, let me give you a ride. Then I will let you eat me."
The Wolf had never ridden a Pig before. It sounded like fun. The Wolf got on the back of the Pig. The Pig gave a squeal and ran straight toward town. The Pig ran under a fence. The Wolf hit the fence hard and fell off the Pig's back. Then, "Woof, woof, woof." All the town dogs came running toward Wolf.
"I do not think I am hungry for Pig." said Wolf. "Look, everyone, shouted Wolf. I am not a dog. Those are dogs." Then Wolf turned and ran away with the dogs still after him. At the end of the tale - the Wolf went to bed hungry.
Dr. Lockett first read this story in a wonderful old book called Fireside Tales (1927). He adapted the story for his own retelling and for your enjoyment. Look for other stories by Dr. Lockett at www.mikelockett.com. The origin of the story is Latvia in the Ukraine.