夜莺与玫瑰-第16部分

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“　‘Hans，’　said　the　Miller，　‘I　will　give　you　my　wheelbarrow。　It　is　not　in　very　good　repair；　indeed，　one　side　is　gone，　and　there　is　something　wrong　with　the　wheel…spokes；　but　in　spite　of　that　I　will　give　it　to　you。　I　know　it　is　very　generous　of　me，　and　a　great　many　people　would　think　me　extremely　foolish　for　parting　with　it，　but　I　am　not　like　the　rest　of　the　world。　I　think　that　generosity　is　the　essence　of　friendship，　and，　besides，　I　have　got　a　new　wheelbarrow　for　myself。　Yes，　you　may　set　your　mind　at　ease，　I　will　give　you　my　wheelbarrow。’
“　‘Well，　really，　that　is　generous　of　you，’　said　little　Hans，　and　his　funny　round　face　glowed　all　over　with　pleasure。　‘I　can　easily　put　it　in　repair，　as　I　have　a　plank　of　wood　in　the　house。’
“　‘A　plank　of　wood！’　said　the　Miller；　‘why，　that　is　just　what　I　want　for　the　roof　of　my　barn。　There　is　a　very　large　hole　in　it，　and　the　corn　will　all　get　damp　if　I　don’t　stop　it　up。　How　lucky　you　mentioned　it！　It　is　quite　remarkable　how　one　good　action　always　breeds　another。　I　have　given　you　my　wheelbarrow，　and　now　you　are　going　to　give　me　your　plank。　Of　course，　the　wheelbarrow　is　worth　far　more　than　the　plank，　but　true，　friendship　never　notices　things　like　that。　Pray　get　it　at　once，　and　I　will　set　to　work　at　my　barn　this　very　day。’
“　‘　Certainly，’　cried　little　Hans，　and　he　ran　into　the　shed　and　dragged　the　plank　out。
“　‘It　is　not　a　very　big　plank，　’　said　the　Miller，　looking　at　it，　‘and　I　am　afraid　that　after　I　have　mended　my　barn…roof　there　won’t　be　any　left　for　you　to　mend　the　wheelbarrow　with；　but，　of　course，　that　is　not　my　fault。　And　now，　as　I　have　given　you　my　wheelbarrow，　I　am　sure　you　would　like　to　give　me　some　flowers　in　return。　Here　is　the　basket，　and　mind　you　fill　it　quite　full。’
“　‘Quite　full？’　said　little　Hans，　rather　sorrowfully，　for　it　was　really　a　very　big　basket，　and　he　knew　that　if　he　filled　it　he　would　have　no　flowers　left　for　the　market　and　he　was　very　anxious　to　get　his　silver　buttons　back。
“　‘Well，　really，’　answered　the　Miller，　‘as　I　have　given　you　my　wheelbarrow，　I　don’t　think　that　it　is　much　to　ask　you　for　a　few　flowers。　I　may　be　wrong，　but　I　should　have　thought　that　friendship，　true　friendship，　was　quite　free　from　selfishness　of　any　kind。’
“　‘My　dear　friend，　my　best　friend，’　cried　little　Hans，　‘you　are　wele　to　all　the　flowers　in　my　garden。　I　would　much　sooner　have　your　good　opinion　than　my　silver　buttons，　any　day；’　and　he　ran　and　plucked　all　his　pretty　primroses，　and　filled　the　Miller’s　basket。
“　‘Good…bye，　little　Hans，’　said　the　Miller，　as　he　went　up　the　hill　with　the　plank　on　his　shoulder，　and　the　big　basket　in　his　hand。
“　‘Good…bye，’　said　little　Hans，　and　he　began　to　dig　away　quite　merrily，　he　was　so　pleased　about　the　wheelbarrow。
“The　next　day　he　was　nailing　up　some　honeysuckle　against　the　porch，　when　he　heard　the　Miller’s　voice　calling　to　him　from　the　road。　So　he　jumped　off　the　ladder，　and　ran　down　the　garden，　and　looked　over　the　wall。
“There　was　the　Miller　with　a　large　sack　of　flour　on　his　back。
“　‘Dear　little　Hans，’　said　the　Miller，　‘would　you　mind　carrying　this　sack　of　flour　for　me　to　market？’
“　‘Oh，　I　am　so　sorry，’　said　Hans，　‘but　I　am　really　very　busy　today。　I　have　got　all　my　creepers　to　nail　up，　and　all　my　flowers　to　water，　and　all　my　grass　to　roll。’
“　‘Well，　really，’　said　the　Miller，　‘I　think　that，　considering　that　I　am　going　to　give　you　my　wheelbarrow，　it　is　rather　unfriendly　of　you　to　refuse。’
“　‘Oh，　don’t　say　that，’　cried　little　Hans，　‘I　wouldn’t　be　unfriendly　for　the　whole　world；’and　he　ran　in　for　his　cap，　and　trudged　off　with　the　big　sack　on　his　shoulders。
“It　was　a　very　hot　day，　and　the　road　was　terribly　dusty，　and　before　Hans　had　reached　the　sixth　milestone　he　was　so　tired　that　he　had　to　sit　down　and　rest。　However，　he　went　on　bravely，　and　as　last　he　reached　the　market。　After　he　had　waited　there　some　time，　he　sold　the　sack　of　flour　for　a　very　good　price，　and　then　he　returned　home　at　once，　for　he　was　afraid　that　if　he　stopped　too　late　he　might　meet　some　robbers　on　the　way。
“　‘It　has　certainly　been　a　hard　day，’　said　little　Hans　to　himself　as　he　was　going　to　bed，　‘but　I　am　glad　I　did　not　refuse　the　Miller，　for　he　is　my　best　friend，　and，　besides，　he　is　going　to　give　me　his　wheelbarrow。’
“Early　the　next　morning　the　Miller　came　down　to　get　the　money　for　his　sack　of　flour，　but　little　Hans　was　so　tired　that　he　was　still　in　bed。
“　‘Upon　my　word，’　said　the　Miller，　‘you　are　very　lazy。　Really，　considering　that　I　am　going　to　give　you　my　wheelbarrow，　I　think　you　might　work　harder。　Idleness　is　a　great　sin，　and　I　certainly　don’t　like　any　of　my　friends　to　be　idle　or　sluggish。　You　must　not　mind　my　speaking　quite　plainly　to　you。　Of　course　I　should　not　dream　of　doing　so　if　I　were　not　your　friend。　But　what　is　the　good　of　friendship　if　one　cannot　say　exactly　what　one　means？　Anybody　can　say　charming　things　and　try　to　please　and　to　flatter，　but　a　true　friend　always　says　unpleasant　things，　and　does　not　mind　giving　pain。　Indeed，　if　he　is　a　really　true　friend　he　prefers　it，　for　he　knows　that　then　he　is　doing　good。’
“　‘I　am　very　sorry，’　said　little　Hans，　rubbing　his　eyes　and　pulling　off　his　night…cap，　‘but　I　was　so　tired　that　I　thought　I　would　lie　in　bed　for　a　little　time，　and　listen　to　the　birds　singing。　Do　you　know　that　I　always　work　better　after　hearing　the　birds　sing？’
“　‘Well，　I　am　glad　of　that，’　said　the　Miller，　clapping　little　Hans　on　the　back，　‘for　I　want　you　to　e　up　to　the　mill　as　soon　as　you　are　dressed，　and　mend　my　barn…roof　for　me。’
“Poor　little　Hans　was　very　anxious　to　go　and　work　in　his　garden，　for　his　flowers　had　not　been　watered　for　two　days，　but　he　did　not　like　to　refuse　the　Miller，　as　he　was　such　a　good　friend　to　him。
“　‘Do　you　think　it　would　be　unfriendly　of　me　if　I　said　I　was　busy？’　he　inquired　in　a　shy　and　timid　voice。
“　‘Well，　really，’　answered　the　Miller，　‘I　do　not　think　it　is　much　to　ask　of　you，　considering　that　I　am　going　to　give　you　my　wheelbarrow；　but　of　course　if　you　refuse　I　will　go　and　do　it　myself。’
“　‘Oh！　on　no　account，’　cried　little　Hans　and　he　jumped　out　of　bed，　and　dressed　himself，　and　went　up　to　the　barn。
“He　worked　there　all　day　long，　till　sunset，　and　at　sunset　the　Miller　came　to　see　how　he　was　getting　on。
“　‘Have　you　mended　the　hole　in　the　roof　yet，　little　Hans？’　cried　the　Miller　in　a　cheery　voice。
“　‘It　is　quite　mended，’　answered　little　Hans，　ing　down　the　ladder。
“　‘Ah！’　said　the　Miller，　‘there　is　no　work　so　delightful　as　the　work　one　does　for　others。’
“　‘It　is　certainly　a　great　privilege　to　hear　you　talk，’　answered　little　Hans，　sitting　down，　and　wiping　his　forehead，　‘a　very　great　privilege。　But　I　am　afraid　I　shall　never　have　such　beautiful　ideas　as　you　have。’
“　‘Oh！　they　will　e　to　you，’　said　the　Miller，　‘but　you　must　take　more　pains。　At　present　you　have　only　the　practice　of　friendship；　some　day　you　will　have　the　theory　also。’
“　‘Do　you　really　think　I　shall？’　asked　little　Hans。
“　‘I　have　no　doubt　of　it，’　answered　the　Miller，　‘but　now　that　you　have　mended　the　roof，　you　had　better　go　home　and　rest，　for　I　want　you　to　drive　my　sheep　to　the　mountain　to…morrow。’
“Poor　little　Hans　was　afraid　to　say　anything　to　this，　and　early　the　next　morning　the　Miller　brought　his　sheep　round　to　the　cottage，　and　Hans　started　off　with　them　to　the　mountain。　It　took　him　the　whole　day　to　get　there　and　back；　and　when　he　returned　he　was　so　tired　that　he　went　off　to　sleep　in　his　chair，　and　did　not　wake　up　till　it　was　broad　daylight。
“　‘What　a　delightful　time　I　shall　have　in　my　garden，’　he　said，　and　he　went　to　work　at　once。
“But　somehow　he　was　never　able　to　look　after　his　flowers　at　all，　for　his　friend　the　Miller　was　always　ing　round　and　sending　him　off　on　long　errands，　or　getting　him　to　help　at　the　mill。　Little　Hans　was　very　much　distressed　at　times，　as　he　was　afraid　his　flowers　would　think　he　had　forgotten　them，　but　he　consoled　himself　by　the　reflection　that　the　Miller　was　his　best　friend。　‘Besides，’　he　used　to　say，　‘he　is　going　to　give　me　his　wheelbarrow，　and　that　is　an　act　of　pure　generosity。’
“So　little　Hans　worked　away　for　the　Miller，　and　the　Miller　said　all　kinds　of　beautiful　things　about　friendship，　which　Hans　took　down　in　a　note…book，　and　used　to　read　over　at　night，　for　he　was　a　very　good　scholar。
“Now　it　happened　that　one　evening　little　Hans　was　sitting　by　his　fireside　when　a　loud　rap　came　at　the　door。　It　was　a　very　wild　night，　and　the　wind　was　blowing　and　roaring　round　the　house　so　terribly　that　at　first　he　thought　it　was　merely　the　storm。　But　a　second　rap　came，　and　then　a　third，　louder　than　any　of　the　others。
“　‘It　is　some　poor　traveller，’　said　little　Hans　to　himself，　and　he　ran　to　the　door。
“There　stood　the　Miller　with　a　lantern　in　one　hand　and　a　big　stick　in　the　other。
“　‘Dear　little　Hans，’　cried　the　Miller，　‘I　am　in　great　trouble。　My　little　boy　has　fallen　off　a　ladder　and　hurt　himself，　and　I　am　going　for　the　Doctor。　But　he　lives　so　far　away，　and　it　is　such　a　bad　night，　that　it　has　just　occurred　to　me　that　it　would　be　much　better　i