Why Beans Have a Split in the Middle

A woman, who was preparing a pot of soup, dropped on the floor a bean, a piece of red hot coal and a piece of the straw she had used to light the fire, These three things were all glad to have escaped, and they decided to run away, before they were picked up again and thrown in the fire.

As they ran down the path, they found a small stream in their way. The piece of a small stream in their way. The piece of straw generously offered to lie down and make a bridge from one side to the other, so that its companions could cross over.

The bean and the coal were very grateful, but the coal, who went first, reached the middle of the bridge, looked down and became so frightened that it stopped. Then, because the coal was still lot, it set fire to the straw, and both fell into the water and were carried away. All this made the been laugh so much that it split its sides. Luckily, a passing tailor found it, and sewed it back together again. And from that day on, all the beans in the world still carry the scar down their backs.