Once upon a time in a small village . . . there
were three little pigs Bunny, Tunny & Munny, who left their mummy to see the world.
All summer long, they roamed through the woods and over the plains, playing
games and having fun. None were happier than
the three little pigs, and they easily made friends with everyone. Wherever they went,
they were given a warm welcome, but as summer drew to a close, they realized that folk
were drifting back to their usual jobs, and preparing for winter.
Autumn came and it began to rain. The three little pigs started to
feel they needed a real home.
Sadly they knew that the fun was over now and they must set
to work like the others, or they'd be left in the cold and rain, with no roof over their
heads. They talked about what to do, but each decided for himself.
The laziest little Bunny pig said he'd build a straw hut.
"It will only take a day,' he said. The others disagreed. "It's too
fragile," they said disapprovingly, but he refused to listen. One day he saw a man
going with his bullocks full of straw he buyed all the straw from the man and built his
house.
Not quite so lazy, the second little Tunny pig went in search of
planks of seasoned wood. "Clunk! Clunk! Clunk!" It took him two days to nail
them together. But the third little Munny pig did not like the wooden house.
"That's not the way to build a house!" he said. "It takes time, patience
and hard work to build a house that is strong enough to stand up to wind, rain, and snow,
and most of all, protect us from the wolf!"
The days went by, and the wisest little Munny pig's house took shape,
brick by brick. From time to time, his brothers visited him, saying with a chuckle:
"Why are you working so hard? Why don't you come and play?"
But the stubborn bricklayer Munny pig just said
"no"."I shall finish my house first. It must be solid and sturdy. And then
I'll come and play!" he said. "I shall not be foolish like you! For he who
laughs last, laughs longest!"
It was the little Bunny pig that found the tracks of a big wolf in the neighbourhood. The
little pigs rushed home in alarm. Along came the wolf, scowling fiercely at the laziest
pig's straw hut.
"Come out!" ordered the wolf, his mouth watering. I want to speak to you!"
"I'd rather stay where I am!" replied the little Bunny pig in a tiny voice.
"I'll
make you come out!" growled the wolf angrily, and puffing out his chest, he took a
very deep breath. Then he blew with all his might, right onto the house. And all the straw
the silly Bunny pig had heaped against some thin poles, fell down in the great blast.
Excited by his own cleverness, the wolf did not notice that
the Bunny pig had slithered out from underneath the heap of straw, and was dashing towards
his brother's wooden house. When he realized that the little pig was escaping, the wolf
grew wild with rage.
"Come back!" he roared, trying to catch the pig as he ran into the wooden house.
The other little Tunny pig greeted his brother, shaking like a leaf. "I hope this
house won't fall down! Let's lean against the door so he can't break in!"
Outside, the wolf could hear the little pigs' words. Starving as he was, at the idea of a
two-course meal, he rained blows on the door."Open up! Open up! I only want to speak
to you!"
Inside, the two brothers wept in fear and did their best to hold the door fast against the
blows. Then the furious wolf braced himself a new effort: he drew in a really enormous
breath, and went ... WHOOOOO! The wooden house collapsed like a pack of cards.
Luckily, the wisest little Munny pig had been watching the scene from
the window of his own brick house, and he rapidly opened the door to his fleeing
brothers.And not a moment too soon, for the wolf was already hammering furiously on the
door.
This time, the wolf had grave doubts. This house had a much
more solid air than the others. He blew once, he blew again and then for a third time. But
all was in vain. For the house did not budge an inch. The three little pigs watched him
and their fear began to fade.
Quite exhausted by his efforts, the wolf decided to try one
of his tricks. He scrambled up a nearby ladder, on to the roof to have a look at the
chimney. However, the wisest little pig had seen this ploy, and he quickly said:
"Quick! Light the fire!" , said the Munny pig to his
brothers.With his long legs thrust down the chimney, the wolf was not sure if he should
slide down the black hole. It wouldn't be easy to get in, but the sound of the little
pigs' voices below only made him feel hungrier.
"I'm dying of hunger! I'm going to try and get down." And he let himself drop.
But landing was rather hot, too hot! The wolf landed in the fire, stunned by his fall.
The flames licked his hairy coat and his tail became a
flaring torch. "Never again! Never again will I go down a chimney!" he squealed,
as he tried to put out the flames in his tail. Then he ran away as fast as he could.
The three happy little pigs, dancing round and round the
yard, began to sing: "Tra-la-la! Tra-la-la! The wicked black wolf will never come
back...!"
From that terrible day on, the wisest little Munny pig's brothers set to work with a will.
In less than no time, up went the two new brick houses. The wolf did return once to roam
in the neighbourhood, but when he caught sight of three chimneys, he remembered the
terrible pain of a burnt tail, and he left for good.
Now safe and happy, the wisest little Munny pig called to his brothers: "No more
work! Come on, let's go and play!" |