The Three Billy-Goats Gruff
Once upon a time there were three billy-goats. They wanted to go up to the hillside to eat and grow fat. All three were named Gruff.
On the way up, there was a bridge over a stream. They had to cross it to get to the hillside. Under the bridge lived a big ugly Troll. His eyes were as big as saucers. His nose was as long as a poker.
First came the youngest billy-goat Gruff to cross the bridge.
"Trip, trap! Trip, trap!" went the bridge.
"WHO'S THAT tripping over my bridge?" roared the Troll.
"Oh! It is only me, the tiniest billy-goat Gruff," said the billy-goat, in a tiny little voice. "I'm going up to the hillside to grow fat."
"Now I'm coming to gobble you up," said the Troll.
"Oh, no! Please don't take me. I'm too little," said the billy-goat. "Wait a bit! The second billy-goat Gruff is coming. He's much bigger."
"Well! Be off with you," said the Troll.
A little while after, the second billy-goat Gruff came to cross the bridge.
"TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP!" went the bridge.
"WHO'S THAT tripping over my bridge?" roared the Troll.
"Oh! It's the second billy-goat Gruff," said the billy-goat, in a not-so-small voice. "I'm going up to the hillside to grow fat."
"Now I'm coming to gobble you up," said the Troll.
"Oh, no! Don't take me," said the billy-goat. "Wait a little! The big billy-goat Gruff is coming. He's much bigger."
"Very well! Be off with you," said the Troll.
But just then up came the big billy-goat Gruff. He was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him.
"TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP!" went the bridge.
"WHO'S THAT tramping over my bridge?" roared the Troll.
"IT'S ME! THE BIG BILLY-GOAT GRUFF," said the billy-goat, in a loud, rough voice.
"Now I'm coming to gobble you up," roared the Troll.
"Come along then! I've got two spears, And I'll poke your eyeballs out at your ears! I've got besides two curling-stones, And I'll crush you to bits, body and bones!"
That was what the big billy-goat said. He flew at the Troll and poked his eyes out with his horns. He crushed him to bits, body and bones. Then he tossed him into the stream. After that, the big billy-goat went up to the hillside.
There the three billy-goats ate and ate and grew so fat they could hardly walk home again. And if they haven't stopped eating, they are still fat up there today. And so:
Snip, snap, snout, This tale's told out.
