The Straw, The Coal, and The Bean. 19 



into the brook. The coal, with a hiss, slid after it 

 into the water. 



The bean had stayed behind on the shore. When 

 she saw what had happened, she laughed so hard 

 that she burst. 



She would have been worse off than her com- 

 rades had not a tailor come to rest by the brook. 

 He noticed the bean, and, being a kind-hearted man, 

 he took a needle and thread out of his pocket. 



Taking up the bean, he sewed her together. She 

 thanked him very much. 



He had only black thread with which to sew the 

 bean, so ever since that time some beans have a 

 black mark down their backs. 



From Grimm's Fairy Tales. 



