said Sally Folsum , burning to wear a long silk gown and a feather in her hair . `` I like Betty best , she 's so cunning , and she peeked out of the window just as if she really saw somebody coming , '' answered Liddy Peckham , privately resolving to tease mother for some pink roses before another Sunday came . Up went the curtain at last , and a voice announced `` A Tragedy in Three Tableaux . '' `` There 's Betty ! '' was the general exclamation , as the audience recognized a familiar face under the little red hood worn by the child who stood receiving a basket from Teacher , who made a nice mother with her finger up , as if telling the small messenger not to loiter by the way . `` I know what that is ! '' cried Sally ; `` it 's ` Mabel on Midsummer Day . ' The piece Miss Celia spoke ; do n't you know ? '' `` There is n't any sick baby , and Mabel had a ` kerchief pinned about her head . ' I say it 's Red Riding Hood , '' answered Liddy , who had begun to learn Mary Howitt 's pretty poem for her next piece , and knew all about it . The question was settled by the appearance of the wolf in the second scene , and such a wolf ! On few amateur stages do we find so natural an actor for that part , or so good a costume , for Sanch was irresistibly droll in the gray wolf-skin which usually lay beside Miss Celia 's bed , now fitted over his back and fastened neatly down underneath , with his own face peeping out at one end , and the handsome tail bobbing gayly at the other . What a comfort that tail was to Sancho , none but a bereaved bow-wow could ever tell . It reconciled him to his distasteful part at once , it made rehearsals a joy , and even before the public he could not resist turning to catch a glimpse of the noble appendage , while his own brief member wagged with the proud consciousness that though the tail did not match the head , it was long enough to be seen of all men and dogs . That was a pretty picture , for the little maid came walking in with the basket on her arm , and such an innocent face inside the bright hood that it was quite natural the gray wolf should trot up to her with deceitful friendliness , that she should pat and talk to him confidingly about the butter for grandma , and then that they should walk away together , he politely carrying her basket , she with her hand on his head , little dreaming what evil plans were taking shape inside . The children encored that , but there was no time to repeat it , so they listened to more stifled merriment behind the red table-cloths , and wondered whether the next scene would be the wolf popping his head out of the window as Red Riding Hood knocks , or the tragic end of that sweet child . It was neither , for a nice bed had been made , and in it reposed the false grandmother , with a ruffled nightcap on , a white gown , and spectacles . Betty lay beside the wolf , staring at him as if just about to say , `` Why , grandma , what great teeth you 've got ! '' for Sancho 's mouth was half open and a red tongue hung out , as he panted with the exertion of keeping still . This tableau was so very good , and yet so funny , that the children clapped and shouted frantically ; this excited the dog , who gave a bounce and would have leaped off the bed to bark at the rioters , if Betty had not caught him by the legs , and Thorny dropped the curtain just at the moment when the wicked wolf was apparently in the act of devouring the poor little girl , with most effective growls .
They had to come out then , and did so , both much dishevelled by the late tussle , for Sancho 's cap was all over one eye , and XXXXX 's hood was anywhere but on her head .
Betty Celia Day Folsum Howitt Red Sancho appendage table-cloths wolf-skin