The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats

The Mother Goat’s Warning

One bright morning, as the sun rose and cast its golden rays across the land, the mother goat gathered her seven kids around her. She looked into their innocent eyes with great love but also with a hint of worry. "Dear children," she began, "I have to go into the forest today to find food. But you must be very careful and stay inside. The wolf is always on the prowl, and if he gets the chance, he will gobble you up. So remember this: do not, under any circumstances, open the door unless you are absolutely certain it is me."

"But mother," said the youngest goat with wide eyes, "how will we know it's you?"

The mother goat smiled and replied, "I have a sweet, gentle voice, and my feet are white as snow. That is how you will know it is me. Never let anyone else in." The seven kids nodded eagerly, promising to be careful and to obey their mother’s instructions.

With that, the mother goat kissed each one of her children, and with a final loving glance, she left the cottage, heading deep into the forest to find food for her family.

The Wolf's Deceit

It wasn’t long after the mother goat had left that there came a knock on the door. "My dear children," said a deep, raspy voice, "it's your mother. Open the door, for I have brought you lovely gifts."

The seven kids froze, looking at each other in fear. The eldest goat, who was the wisest among them, stepped forward and called out, "No, you are not our mother! She has a sweet, gentle voice, but yours is rough and gruff! You are the wolf!"

Angered at being discovered so quickly, the wolf growled but realized he needed to change his approach. He ran to a nearby shop, where he bought a large piece of chalk. He chewed on it until his voice became soft and smooth, just like the mother goat's. Satisfied with the change, the wolf returned to the cottage and knocked on the door once more.

"My dear children," he said in a much sweeter tone, "it is your mother. Open the door, and I will give you all the treats I have brought back from the forest."

This time, the kids hesitated. The voice sounded so much like their mother's, but the eldest goat was still cautious. "Show us your feet!" he demanded. "Our mother's feet are white as snow."

The wolf cursed under his breath. He knew he had been found out once again. Rushing off to the miller, he ordered, "Cover my paws with flour so that they are as white as snow." The miller, terrified of the wolf, did as he was told. With his paws now disguised, the wolf returned to the cottage and knocked a third time.

"Dear children," he cooed in a voice that was now both sweet and gentle, "it’s your mother. Look, my feet are white as snow."

Peeking through a crack in the door, the youngest goat saw the white feet and cried out in joy, "It's mother! Let her in!" The eldest goat hesitated for a moment but, seeing the white feet and hearing the sweet voice, he opened the door.

The Wolf Strikes

The moment the door swung open, the wolf leaped into the cottage with a terrifying growl. The seven little goats screamed in fear and scattered in all directions, trying to hide. One hid under the bed, another behind the curtains, a third jumped into the oven, a fourth into the cupboard, the fifth under a washbasin, and the sixth into a large pot. The youngest, the tiniest kid, scrambled into the grandfather clock, squeezing himself into its narrow confines just as the wolf’s shadow fell across him.

The wolf was ruthless. One by one, he found the kids and gobbled them up whole, all except for the youngest, who remained hidden in the clock. Satisfied with his meal, the wolf staggered away, his belly bulging, and fell asleep beneath a tree near the river.

The Mother Goat Returns

Soon after, the mother goat returned from the forest, humming a cheerful tune as she approached the cottage. But when she saw the door wide open and the silence that greeted her, her heart filled with dread. She rushed inside and found the house in disarray. Tables were overturned, chairs knocked over, and the room was eerily still.

"Children! My dear children!" she cried out in panic. There was no answer. Trembling, she began searching the house until she reached the grandfather clock. A small, frightened voice called out from inside, "Mother, it’s me! The wolf has eaten my brothers and sisters!"

The mother goat wept bitterly as she took the youngest kid into her arms. "Do not be afraid, my dear," she whispered, stroking his head. "We will save your brothers and sisters. We will not let the wolf get away with this!"

Finding the Wolf

With her youngest kid by her side, the mother goat set out to find the wolf. It didn’t take long to find him; he lay snoring loudly under a tree, his belly so full it bulged grotesquely. The mother goat could see that something was moving inside the wolf’s stomach. "They’re still alive," she whispered. "We must act quickly."

Running back to the cottage, the mother goat fetched a pair of scissors, a needle, and thread. She returned to the wolf and, with great care, cut open his belly. One by one, her children jumped out, alive and well, though terribly frightened.

"Oh, mother!" they cried, hugging her tightly. "We thought we would never see you again!"

"But you are safe now," the mother goat reassured them. "Quickly, gather some heavy stones."

The seven kids did as they were told, and together, they filled the wolf’s belly with large, heavy stones. Then the mother goat sewed him up carefully, ensuring that he would not wake up during the process.

The Wolf's Surprise

When the wolf finally awoke, he felt an unbearable weight pressing down on him. He was terribly thirsty and lumbered over to the river to drink. But as he leaned over, the weight of the stones caused him to lose his balance, and with a great splash, he fell into the river and was swept away by the current, never to be seen again.

The mother goat and her seven kids watched from the riverbank, and for the first time in a long while, they felt truly safe. "You see, my dear children," the mother goat said, "as long as we stay together and protect one another, no harm can come to us."

Life After the Wolf

From that day forward, the mother goat and her seven kids lived happily and peacefully in their little cottage by the forest. They were no longer afraid of the wolf, and each day was filled with joy, laughter, and warmth. The kids learned to be more cautious and always remembered their mother's warning about strangers.

As the days passed, they grew stronger and wiser, learning to recognize danger and avoid it. They would tell their tale to the other animals of the forest, and soon, every creature knew the story of how the cunning wolf was outwitted by the bravery and cleverness of a mother goat and her children.

Epilogue

Years passed, and the once young goats grew into fine, strong adults. They helped their mother around the cottage and in the forest, never forgetting the lessons they had learned. They became respected figures in the animal community, admired for their courage and cleverness.

And as for the mother goat, she felt immense pride in her children. She knew that no matter what challenges they might face in the future, they would always be ready to protect each other, just as they had done when the wolf tried to steal them away.

And so, the story of the wolf and the seven young goats was passed down from generation to generation, serving as a timeless reminder of the importance of family, courage, and the power of standing together against all odds. It is a tale that continues to be told, reminding us that even the cleverest of wolves can be defeated by the love and determination of those who refuse to be broken.

The Moral of the Story

The wolf's greed and deception ultimately led to his downfall, while the mother goat's love, courage, and wisdom triumphed in the end. This story teaches us to always be cautious of deceitful appearances and to stand together with those we love, for it is in unity that we find the greatest strength.

Final Reflection

As the sun set over the forest and the little cottage by its edge, the goats gathered around their mother, basking in the warmth and safety that they had fought so hard to protect. And as they drifted off to sleep, they knew that, no matter what dangers the forest might hold, they would always be ready to face them together.

And so, they lived happily ever after.