Her mother came one day, knowing that her grandmother was ill; and having made some custard and cheesecakes, calling her and said, 'My little Biddy, go and see your grandmother, and take also with you some custards and cheesecakes, and this pot of butter. The little red riding-hood was soon put on, and out she sets to see her grandmother, who, you must observe, lived at another village through a wood.

When she came to the farther end of the wood, she was met by Gossip Wolf, who, being a cruel creature, had a mind to eat her up; but, as some faggot-men were at work in the forest, he did not dare to do it; so, by his deceitful speeches, he tried another way to destroy her; and, like a treacherous knave, asked where she was going so early.

The pretty little child said, 'I am going to my grandmother, who is not well, with a custard and a little pot of butter which my mother sent her.' At which the cunning wolf asks, if she lived far off. 'A great way off, below yonder mill,' said she, pointing with her little child's finger, 'in the distance you see yonder.' 'Very well, 'said the designing wolf, 'I will go see her too; but I will go the other way, do you go that: I will be there as soon as you.' So the little girl went through the meadows, gathering cowslips and violets to make her grandmother’s windows sweet and fine; for it was in the month of May, when those flowers were in their prime.

The Wolf, he knew the nearest way, and went much faster than the child, was not long before he got to the grandmother's house.

When he knocked at the door, Toc, toc, toc! 'Who is there?' quote the good old woman. 'Your granddaughter Biddy,' said the wolf (imitating the child's voice). 'I have brought you some custard, and a little pot of butter, which mother had sent you.' The grandmother, who was ill and in bed, bid him pull the latch, and the door would open; so the wolf pulled the latch, went into the room, and with his great teeth and ravenous appetite so eat the poor old woman entirely up. After he had eaten up the grandmother, he, like a cunning villain, thought how he might deceive Little Red Riding-Hood, and devour her also. So he shuts to the door very close again, and rolls himself into the grandmother's bed, because he was sure Little Red Riding-Hood would soon be there. A little while after she came, and knocked at the door, Toc, toc, toc! 'Who is there?' quote the treacherous wolf.
The little harmless Red Riding-Hood, hearing so gruff a voice (though he had dissembled as much as he could), was afraid at first; however, not knowing but her grandmother might have taken a great cold, and so be very hoarse, she said, 'It is your granddaughter Biddy, and I have brought you some custard and a little pot of butter, my mammy sent me with you.

The wolf answers her in as soft a voice as he could, 'Lift up the latch, and the door will open; which she did, and coming to the bedside, the perfidious wolf, hiding his ugly head under the clothes, and speaking in a faint tone, said, 'Put the custard and butter on the stool, and come into bed, for I am very cold.' The good-nature and kind temper of little Red Riding-Hood made it not long before she obeyed the commands of her grandmother, undressed herself, and went into bed; but was sadly affrighted at her grandmother's long ears, which stared over her night-cap. So said the child to her (feeling her arms) Bless me! Grandma, what great arms you have got!' 'They are the better to embrace thee my pretty child.' 'Grandma, what long and great ears you have got!' 'They are the better to hear, my child.' 'Grandma, what great eyes and long teeth you have got!' 'They are the better to see you, and to eat you up.’

And as soon as he had said these words, this wicked wolf flew upon poor little Red Riding-Hood, and eat her up.