. . . Tom Thumb’s mother took him with her when she went to milk the cow. It was a very windy evening and she tied the little fellow with a needleful of thread to a thistle, that he might not be blown away. Tom had a fine time, swinging and singing and talking with the bees and butterflies. But by the by a big red cow came along and, taking a fancy to his oak-leaf hat, picked him and the thistle up at one mouthful. When the cow began to chew the thistle, Tom was dreadfully frightened at her great teeth, and called out: “Mother! Mother!”
“Where are you, my dear boy?” cried his mother in alarm.
“Here, mother, here in the red cow’s mouth.”
Once Upon A Time.
Edited by Katharine Lee Bates.
Illustrations by Margaret Evans Price.
Rand McNally & Company: Chicago & New York. 1921.
Elephant's Picture Book 
I fell in love with these kids of stories and pictures when I was a child. They are part of my soul. Thank you for posting them.
Glad to please.
Elephant
Love that hat. Just love it. And the clarity of the colors is wonderful against the plain white background. Also,those thistles!
Claudia – this post was just for you and your love of hats and fashion from nature! His mother had some real talent as a designer!
Elephant
Love the colors they are great
Thank you – the colors just needed a little freshening up!
Elephant
Hello, I would love to send you a little (size of your palm) paper cut character for making me smile during the guess the wall comp. Thanks for participating. Send me an address via my email if you like. warrener_@hotmail.com
Dear Anne,
How very nice of you! I was being so silly I thought you might get mad at me! I have an idea – I will email you!
You are very kind to even think of such a thank you gift!
Elephant
I never got your email warrener_@hotmail.com (its an underscore).