Little Lasse There was once a little boy whose name was Lars , and because he was so little he was called Little Lasse ; he was a brave little man , for he sailed round the world in a pea-shell boat . It was summer time , when the pea shells grew long and green in the garden . Little Lasse crept into the pea bed where the pea stalks rose high above his cap , and he picked seventeen large shells , the longest and straightest he could find . Little Lasse thought , perhaps , that no one saw him ; but that was foolish , for God sees everywhere . Then the gardener came with his gun over his shoulder , and he heard something rustling in the pea bed . ' I think that must be a sparrow , ' he said . ` Ras ! Ras ! ' but no sparrows flew out , for Little Lasse had no wings , only two small legs . ` Wait ! I will load my gun and shoot the sparrows , ' said the gardener . Then Little Lasse was frightened , and crept out on to the path . ` Forgive me , dear gardener ! ' he said . ' I wanted to get some fine boats . ' ` Well , I will this time , ' said the gardener . ` But another time Little Lasse must ask leave to go and look for boats in the pea bed . ' ' I will , ' answered Lasse ; and he went off to the shore . Then he opened the shells with a pin , split them carefully in two , and broke small little bits of sticks for the rowers ' seats . Then he took the peas which were in the shells and put them in the boats for cargo .
Some of the shells got broken , some remained whole , and when all were ready XXXXX had twelve boats .
Lars Lasse Ras one pea rowers shells sparrow sparrows stalks