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One day a cook put some peas in a pot and set them on the stove to
boil. Two of the little peas were talking, and said to each other
"Let us jump out; it is getting too hot in this pot." And out they
hopped, one falling into the fire, where it burnt up, and the other
rolling away on the kitchen floor. Now it happened that a little
piece of coal also became dissatisfied and jumped out of the fire,
where it had been too hot. The coal said to the pea on the floor,
"Let us go together to the stream and take a bath." "I am willing,"
said the pea, and they started on their journey. When they reached
the stream, the coal saw a shaving floating on the water, so he
rolled on it to cool off, when lo! the shaving caught fire from the
hot coal and soon burnt up. The little pea had remained on the
shore, and when he saw what happened he began to laugh; he laughed
and laughed, until he burst his sides. There lay the little pea,
split into two parts! A tailor, who was taking a walk on the banks
of the stream, saw the little pea, and noticing that it was split in
halves, asked him what was the matter. "I have burst my sides
laughing," said the pea; "and I hope you will be kind enough to sew
me up." "That was very naughty," said the tailor, "but if you will
promise never to laugh at any one again, I'll sew you up." Hereupon
he took his needle (but found he had only a thread of black silk),
threaded it, and tied a knot in the end, and sewed up the little
pea. The little pea was very happy, thanked the tailor for sewing
him up, and promised never to laugh at any one. Now, children, if
you will examine the little peas, perhaps you can see the black knot
the tailor made.
The Tailor and the Pea
A Fictional Short Story by
Agnes Taylor Ketchum & Ida M. Jorgensen
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