Fairy Tales / Сказки

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“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, coming 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 come 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 coming round and sending him off on long errands, or getting him to help at the mill.