Folksburywoods

Peapod was the local miller and lived with his cat Precocious and goat Petunia. From time to time, the miller kept chickens for fresh eggs and dinner when they passed on. Living far from town meant folks didn’t stop by much, but that was fine with Peapod. He liked it that way. “No news is good news,” he always told himself after a local farmer had dropped off grain for milling and shared the village gossip with him. Folks thought he was slow because he never talked much, but as Peapod figured, “It’s better to be thought of as a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.”

As time passed, the wise woman would stop and share baked goods, some fruit preserves, and a strong cup of dewberry tea. “You’re a smart one, fooling everyone into thinking you’re dim-witted. Well, you are just you, Peapod. Remember, nature never has to push a seed through the soil. It just happens on its own,” said the wise woman.

We could all take a lesson from the miller. Life gives us gifts, and we must see that they are nurtured and allowed to grow. Next time folks start pushing you down, remember Peapod, slide on past, and keep doing your own thing like the Miller Peapod.