Lesson 27 The Billy Goats Gruff

The Billy Goats Gruff

Once there were three billy goats who were all called "Gruff."

They wanted to grow fat.

Every day they went over a bridge and up a hill to eat the green grass.

A troll lived under the bridge.

He was a strange old troll.

He did not want the billy goats to walk upon his bridge.

One day the goats were going to the hill to eat grass.

Little Billy Goat Gruff was the first to go upon the bridge.

Trip-trap, trip-trap! he went.

"Who is going across my bridge?" called the old troll.

"It is just Little Billy Goat Gruff going to the hill to get fat," said the little billy goat.

"Well, I am coming to eat you up," said the troll.

Little Billy Goat was frightened.

"Oh, don't eat me. I am too little," he said.

"Wait for Big Billy Goat. He is bigger than I am."

"Well, be off with you, then!" said the strange old troll.

Soon Big Billy Goat Gruff went upon the bridge.

Trip-trap, trip-trap! he went.

"Who is going across my bridge?" called the troll.

"Oh, it is just Big Billy Goat Gruff going to the hill to get fat," said the big billy goat.

"Well, I am coming to eat you up," said the strange old troll.

Big Billy Goat was frightened. "Oh, no!" he said. "I am too little.

Wait for Biggest Billy Goat Gruff. He is much bigger than I am."

"Well, be off with you, then," said the troll.

So he went back under the bridge to wait for Biggest Billy Goat.

Then Biggest Billy Goat Gruff went upon the bridge. He was so big that he shook the bridge.

Trip-trap, trip-trap! he went.

"Who is going across my bridge?" called the angry troll.

The biggest billy goat said, "Oh, it is just Biggest Billy Goat Gruff."

"Well, I am coming to eat you up," said the strange old troll.

Biggest Billy Goat Gruff was angry.

He shook his big head, and called, "Come on, old Troll! Just try it!"

The troll came out on the bridge.

Then Biggest Billy Goat Gruff put his head down.

Splash went the troll into the water!

He was so frightened that he jumped out of the water and ran far away.

The troll was never seen again, and the goats were not sorry.