The Pea Blossom. 23 



" We shall soon know," said the eldest. " What 

 is to be will be." 



" Crack ! " the pod burst, and the five peas rolled 

 out into the bright sunshine. There they lay in a 

 little boy's hand. He said they were fine for his 

 peashooter, and he put one in and shot it out. 



" Now I 'm flying out into the wide world ; catch 

 me if you can ! " and the first was gone. 



" I shall fly straight into the sun," said the second. 



" We '11 go to sleep wherever we go," said the next 

 two. 



They were put into the peashooter, and, as they 

 were shot out, said, " We shall go farthest." 



" What is to happen will happen ! " said the last. 



As he was shot out, he flew against an old board 

 under a garret window. Here was a crack filled 

 with moss. The moss closed around him, 

 making a soft bed. 



In the garret there lived a poor woman 

 who went out in the daytime to clean 

 stoves and to do hard work. 



She worked very hard, but she was still 

 poor. Her sick daughter lived in the 

 garret. This daughter was very weak, 

 and for a whole year had kept her bed. 

 This made her mother very sad. 



