31. THE ORIGIN OF THE WOODPECKER. 



T^HERE was an old lady who lived on a hill. 

 She was very small, and she always wore a 

 black dress, and a large white apron with big bows 

 behind. 



On her head, she wore the queerest little red 

 bonnet you ever saw. 



It is a sad thing to tell, but the little old lady 

 had grown very selfish as the years went by. 



People said this was because she lived all alone, 

 and thought of no one but herself. 



One morning, as she was baking cakes, a tired, 

 hungry old man came to her door. 



" My good woman," said he, " will you give me 

 one of your cakes ? I am very hungry. I have 

 no money to pay for it, but whatever you first 

 wish for, you shall have." 



Then the old lady looked at her cakes, and 

 thought that these were too large to give away. 



So she broke off a small bit of dough, and put 

 it into the oven to bake. 



