The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-02-21
FIR the giHle folks.
FIVE In A PEA.SHELL.
From the German of Hans Anderson.

rive peas sat IN pea-sheIl. They
were green, and the shell was green
Therefore they thought that the
whole world must be green-ir
which opinions they were about
right. The shell grew,and the pea:
grew too. They could accommodate
themselves very well to their mar
row house, and sat very happily to-
gether, all five in row. The sun
shone outside and warmed the shell.
The rain made it SO clear that you
could see through it. 1t was very
warm and pleasant in there, clear
by day and dark by night, just as il
should be. The FIVE peas grew We
ry fast, and became more intelligent
the older they were.
"Shall always be compelled to
sit hereF' said one to the rest. 81
really am afraid that shall get hard
from sitting constantly. lido believe
that strange things are going on out
side OF our shell as well as in herer'
Weeks passed on, and the peas
became yellow and the she'll grew
yellow too. "All the world is vel
low!" said they. And we cannot
blame them, under the circumstance
IS, for the exclamation.
One day their house was struck
as It by lightning. They were torn
OF by somebody's hand and were
put into coat-pocket which had al
ready been nearly filled with peas.
snow there is going to be an end of
u.s." they sighed TO one another,and
began to prepare themselve for their
change. "But if we live / would
like to hear from the one who goes
the farthest."
"lt will soon be over with US ALL"
said the smallest. But the largest
one replied: "Let come what WILL
am ready"
knack! The shell burst, and all
hve peas rolled out in the bright sun.
shine. Soon they lay in little BOYS
hand. He heIi them fast and said
they would be excellant for his ill.,
tle'gun. Almost Immediately they
were rolling down the barrel of his
shotgun. Out again they went into
the wide world.
SHOW am flying out Into the
world! Catch me if you canl" So
said ono. and he was very soon out
Of sight.
The second one said: II am going
to fly up into the sun. That is a
charming shetland would be just a
bout large enough for me-" And off
he few.
"Wherever we 60 we are going
:, to bed" said two others. And they
hit the roof of a great stone house
and rolled down on the ground.
81 am going to make the best Of
my lot," said the last one. And il
went high up,but came down against
the balcony window OF an old house
and caught there in a little tuft OF
moss. The moss closed up and
there lay the pea. Everybody SEEM
ed to forget tina, little pea, bu, no,
So God remembered it well.
81 shall make the best of my lot"
it said as itlay there. a poor wom-
an lived in room back of the bal
cony window. She spent the whole
day in making little toys of wood
and shells. which was her way Of
gettin little money. She had
good strong body, but nevertheless
she was very poor widow, and
the prospect was that she would al
ways be one. In that little room
eaived her half-grown,d delicate daugh-
ter. A whole year she had been
lying there, and it seemed as if she
could neither live nor die.
"She will soon go to see her little
sister," sighed her mother. had
two dear children, and it was diff.
ficult task for me to take care of
them both. But the Lord made a |
compromise by taking one of them
TO live with him. Now, | would
like to keep this one with me, but il
appears as if God wanted them both
with him. Soon she will go and see
her sister,
But the sick girl still lived and Law
patiently on her sick bed, while
her mother worked with hands for
their daily bread.
By and by spring-time came on.
One morning when the laborious
mother was going about her work
the friendly sun shone through the
window and all alon,! the roof. The
sick girl looked out of the window
and saw something growing.
"What kind OF weed is ihai?" she
said. alt is going to grow agains,
our window. See! the wind is shak-
ing it,"
And the mother came to the win
dow and opened it little. "Just
sse!" she exclaimed. "That is a slen.
der pea.yine: IT Is now shooting ON,