Once upon a time, there was a housewife with seven hungry children. She was frying pancakes made with fresh milk. One pancake, thick and golden, sizzled in the pan. The children gathered around, begging for a bite, each more sweetly than the last.
"Wait until it turns itself," said the mother, "then you shall all have some."
Hearing this, the pancake grew frightened. It flipped itself over, and once both sides were cooked, it felt strong enough. It jumped from the pan, rolled onto the floor like a wheel, and sped out the door and down the road.
"Stop!" cried the wife, chasing it with her pan and ladle. The children and her limping husband followed, but the pancake was much faster and soon vanished from sight.
On its journey, the pancake met many creatures who wanted to eat it:
- A man (Manny Panny)
- A hen (Henny Penny)
- A cock (Cocky Locky)
- A duck (Ducky Lucky)
- A goose (Goosey Poosey)
- A gander (Gander Pander)
To each, the pancake gave the same reply, listing all it had escaped from, and then rolled on.
Finally, it met a pig (Piggy Wiggy). The clever pig suggested they walk together through the unsafe woods for company. The pancake agreed. When they reached a brook, the pig offered to carry the pancake on its snout to cross. The pancake climbed on, and the pig said, "Ouf, ouf," and swallowed it in one gulp. And that was the end of the pancake's adventure.