The Billy Goats Gruff
Once upon a time there
were three billy goats, and the name of all three was Gruff. One day the three
Billy goats Gruff set off to the hills where the sweet grass grew. There they
would eat and eat until they were fat.
On the way was a bridge over a
stream, and under this bridge there lived a troll. His eyes were round as
saucers, and his nose was long as a poker.
First of all came the youngest
Billy-goat Gruff to cross the bridge.
"Trip trap! Trip trap. Trip
trap! Trip trap!" went the bridge.
"Who’s that tripping over my
bridge?" roared the Troll.
"Oh, it’s only me, the
littlest Billy-goat Gruff and I’m going off to the hills to make myself
fat," said the
littlest Billy-goat Gruff, in such a tiny voice.
"Now I’m coming to gobble you
up!" said the Troll.
"Oh no, please don’t take me.
I’m far too little," said the billy goat. "Wait until the second
billy-goat comes – he’s much bigger."
"Very well – be off with
you," said the Troll.
"TRIP TRAP! TRIP TRAP! TRIP
TRAP! TRIP TRAP!" went the bridge.
"Who’s that tripping over my
bridge?" roared the Troll.
"Oh, it’s only the second
Billy-goat Gruff, and I’m going off to the hills to make myself fat,"
said the second Billy-goat Gruff, who hadn’t such a small voice.
"Now I’m coming to gobble you
up!" said the Troll.
"Oh no, please don’t do that.
Wait until the big billy goat comes – he’s much bigger."
"Very well, be off with
you," said the Troll.
Just then along came the big
Billy-goat Gruff.
"TRIP TRAP! TRIP TRAP! TRIP
TRAP! TRIP TRAP!" went the bridge, for the bill billy goat was so heavy
that the bridge groaned and creaked beneath him.
"Who’s that trapping over my
bridge?"roared the Troll.
"IT’S ME! THE BIG BILLY –
GOAT GRUFF!" said the billy goat, who had a great hoarse voice of his own.
"Now I’m coming to gobble you
up!" roared the Trollo.
"Well come along, I’m ready
for you!" said the big Billy – goat Gruff.Up climbed the Troll, and the
big Billy – goat Gruff put down his horns, and tossed the Troll off the bridge
into the stream. SPLASH! Then the big Billy – goat Gruff crossed the bridge
and went up to the hills.
There the three Billy - goats Gruff
got so fat that they wew barely able to wald home again; and if the fat hasn’t
falled off them, why, they’re still fat, and so –
"Snip, snap, snout.
This tale’s told out."