Once there was a mother pig who had three little pigs. She was so poor, however, that she could no longer take care of the young pigs. So she decided to send them away.

It is time for you to go out into the world now. You are old enough to live on your own. Remember that hard work never hurts a pig. But I warn you, if you are lazy and get fat, than you will be too slow to run away from you know who. The hungry old wolf! The three pigs were scared and shouted. So the three little pigs left their safe home and went out into the world. They each went a different way, and they each built themselves a new home.

The first little pig was very nice and happy, but he was also very lazy. He didn’t like hard work. He always looked for the easy way to do things. Knowing he had to build a house for himself, the first little pig went go the market to look for supplies. When he saw a man selling straw, he said to himself, how easy it would be to build a house out of straw!

How much is that straw, sir? I will sell it to you for two cents, little pig. I’ll take it. So the first little pig bought the straw, and he built his house. Well, that was easy. I didn’t have to work very hard, and now I have a new house. This is great! The first little pig went inside and relaxed in his new home.

Now, the second little pig was a little different from the first. Because he liked to have lots of time to play, he always looked for the fastest way to do things. The second little pig also went to the market in search of supplies for his new house. When he saw a man selling sticks, he said to himself.

I could really build a house quickly with those sticks. Sir, how much for those sticks? I will sell them to you for three cents. Great! I’ll buy them. So the second little pig bought the sticks and started to build his house.

Mom said that we would have to work so hard, but this is so easy. Look how quickly I built my house with these sticks. Now I will have plenty of time to play.

The third little pig was very different from his brothers. He was a very hard worker. He wasn’t worried about finding the easiest way or the fastest way. He wanted things done the right way. When he went to market to buy supplies for his house, he looked for something sturdy that would last.

Wow! You have some really good bricks here, sir. I bet they would make a strong house. These bricks will help you build the finest house money can buy. How much for all of them? I will sell them to you for five dollars. Oh, I don’t have enough money right now. Can you wait until tomorrow? Okay, I will wait until tomorrow, but not any longer.

The third little pig quickly left to find work so that he could earn enough money for the bricks. He worked very hard that day. When he was finished, he had the money he needed. Early the next morning, he took his money and bought the bricks, and began building his house. It took him a long time, but he knew the bricks would make his house strong and safe.

When his house was finally finished, the third pig called his two brothers over to see his new home. They came and admired his work. Your house looks great. Now you have to come and play with us. Yeah! Let’s go into the forest to play. You two go on ahead. I still have some work to do. Wow, I get tired just WATCHING him work.

Remember, mother pig warned us not to get fat and lazy. Oh, he is so silly, he loves to work, and he never plays. So the first little pig and the second little pig went into the forest to play while the third little pig stayed home and worked. What the pigs did not know was that in that same forest there was a scary, smart and very hungry old wolf.