13 THE GREEDY LION
Once upon a time, Brown Lion met Little Duck.
He said, “Little Duck, I am going to eat you, I am.”
“Oh, please do not eat me!” said Little Duck.
“Indeed, I will,” said Brown Lion.
And—Handy, Spandy, Jack, down went Little Duck.
Then Brown Lion walked on till he met White Goose.
“I have eaten Little Duck, and I am going to eat you, too, I am.”
“Oh, please do not eat me!” said White Goose.
“Indeed, I will,” said Brown Lion.
And—Handy, Spandy, Jack, down went White Goose.
Then Brown Lion met Big Pig.
“I have eaten Little Duck, I have eaten White Goose, and I am going to eat you, too, I am.”
“Please do not eat me!” said Big Pig.
“Yes, I will,” said Brown Lion.
And—Handy, Spandy, Jack, down went Big Pig.
Brown Lion walked on till he met Black Bear.
“I have eaten Little Duck, I have eaten White Goose, I have eaten Big Pig, and I am going to eat you, too, I am.”
“Oh, please do not eat me!” said Black Bear.
“Yes, I will,” said Brown Lion.
And—Handy, Spandy, Jack, down went Black Bear.
Next he met Spry Mouse.
“I have eaten Little Duck, I have eaten White Goose, I have eaten Big Pig, I have eaten Black Bear, and I am going to eat you, too, I am.”
“Oh, please do not eat me!” said Spry Mouse.
“Yes, I will,” said Brown Lion.
And—Handy, Spandy, Jack, down went Spry Mouse.
It was very dark down there.
Spry Mouse looked all around.
She gnawed a big hole in Brown Lion’s coat and jumped out.
Then out jumped Black Bear.
Then out jumped Big Pig.
Then out jumped White Goose.
Then out jumped Little Duck.
And Brown Lion sat all day, sewing up the hole in his coat.