The lack of green food troubled Mrs. Peniman greatly, for with the voracious appetites of her young brood she realized that they should have vegetables to offset their constant consumption of the heavier diet.
One morning while they were traveling through western Iowa she suddenly leaned out of the wagon peering down into the grass.
"Stop a minute, Joshua," she cried, "I see something over there I want to investigate. It looks to me as if the Lord might be sending us the vegetables we have been wanting."
Mr. Peniman stopped the team and she scrambled nimbly down. Seeing her leave the wagon, Ruth, Nina, Sam and Paul eagerly followed her.
"What is it, Mother? What do you see?" cried Ruth.
Just then Sam stooped down and held up a small green object between his fingers. "Look, Mother," he cried, "look at the funny little green balls!"
"Ah," cried Mrs. Peniman, seizing it eagerly, "that's what I thought! That's what I was looking for! Look here, see?"
She stooped down, pointing to a delicate green vine with small leaves and delicate tendrils that grew in the grass at her feet.
"Pea-vines!" exclaimed Ruth.
"Yes, pea-vines! and these are some kind of a wild pea. I am almost sure they would be good to eat."