Once upon a time, on a farm, a hard-working little red hen lived with a dog, a cat and a pig. One day the little red hen decided to make some bread.
“Who will help me make the bread?” asked the hen.
“Not I” said the dog.
“Not I” yawned the cat.
“Not I” grunted the pig.
“Then I will do it by myself” said the hen.
The hen had to cut the wheat. When she had finished that she asked “Who will help me take the wheat to the mill?”
“Not I” growled the dog.
“Not I” hissed the cat.
“Not I” snorted the pig.
“Then I will do it by myself.” So the hen took the wheat to the mill, and the miller made the wheat into flour.
Next the hen had to make the flour into dough. It asked “Who will help me make the flour into dough?”
“Not I” sighed the dog.
“Not I” whined the cat.
“Not I” sniffed the pig.
“Then I will do it by myself.” So the hen made the dough.
Now the dough needed to be baked. “Who will help me bake the bread?” asked the hen.
“Not I” muttered the dog.
“Not I” murmured the cat.
“Not I” grumbled the pig.
“Then I will do it by myself.” So the hen baked the bread. When it was finished it looked and smelled delicious.
“Who will help me eat the bread?” the hen asked.
“I will” barked the dog.
“I will purred the cat.
“I will grunted the pig.
But the little red hen shook its head.
“No you won’t. I cut the wheat all by myself. I took it to the mill all by myself. I mixed the dough all by myself. I baked it all by myself. And now I shall eat the bread…all by myself.”