The Pea Vine. 21 



reach out and gather it from the earth, and the 

 leaves from the air. They have done 

 good work, too, for you see how strong 

 and healthy I look. 



My leaves are heavy, and the stem is 

 not strong enough to hold them up. I 

 have some little tendrils which help to hold up the 

 vine. 



A voice said to the little tendrils, " Just as soon 

 as you come to anything around which you can 

 twist, do so. In this way, even if you are little, you 

 can help your plant." 



The little tendrils were very obedient, and so 

 anxious to help that they began to twist around 

 some dried twigs that the gardener had put there 

 for me. 



When the pods have grown, they will hold many 

 peas sitting in a row. Then the tendrils will have 

 to hold up a heavy load. But they will twist around 

 the twigs so many times that the pea pods will be 

 quite safe. 



