夜莺与玫瑰-第10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　if　you　went　instead　of　me。　You　know　I　am　going　to　give　you　my　wheelbarrow，　and　so，　it　is　only　fair　that　you　should　do　something　for　me　in　return。’
“　‘Certainly，’　cried　little　Hans，　‘I　take　it　quite　as　a　pliment　your　ing　to　me，　and　I　will　start　off　at　once。　But　you　must　lend　me　your　lantern，　as　the　night　is　so　dark　that　I　am　afraid　I　might　fall　into　the　ditch。’
“　‘I　am　very　sorry，’　answered　the　Miller，　‘but　it　is　my　new　lantern，　and　it　would　be　a　great　loss　to　me　if　anything　happened　to　it。’
“　‘Well，　never　mind，　I　will　do　without　it，’　cried　little　Hans，　and　he　took　down　his　great　fur　coat，　and　his　warm　scarlet　cap，　and　tied　a　muffler　round　his　throat，　and　started　off。
“What　a　dreadful　storm　it　was！　The　night　was　so　black　that　little　Hans　could　hardly　see，　and　the　wind　was　so　strong　that　he　could　scarcely　stand。　However，　he　was　very　courageous，　and　after　he　had　been　walking　about　three　hours，　he　arrived　at　the　Doctor’s　house，　and　knocked　at　the　door。
“　‘Who　is　there？’　cried　the　Doctor，　putting　his　head　out　of　his　bedroom　window。
“　‘Little　Hans，　Doctor。’
“　‘What　do　you　want，　little　Hans？’
“　‘The　Miller’s　son　has　fallen　from　a　ladder，　and　has　hurt　himself，　and　the　Miller　wants　you　to　e　at　once。’
“　‘All　right！’　said　the　Doctor；　and　he　ordered　his　horse，　and　his　big　boots，　and　his　lantern，　and　came　downstairs，　and　rode　off　in　the　direction　of　the　Miller’s　house，　little　Hans　trudging　behind　him。
“But　the　storm　grew　worse　and　worse，　and　the　rain　fell　in　torrents，　and　little　Hans　could　not　see　where　he　was　going，　or　keep　up　with　the　horse。　At　last　he　lost　his　way，　and　wandered　off　on　the　moor，　which　was　a　very　dangerous　place，　as　it　was　full　of　deep　holes，　and　there　poor　little　Hans　was　drowned。　His　body　was　found　the　next　day　by　some　goatherds，　floating　in　a　great　pool　of　water，　and　was　brought　back　by　them　to　the　cottage。
“Everybody　went　to　little　Hans’　funeral，　as　he　was　so　popular，　and　the　Miller　was　the　chief　mourner。
“　‘As　I　was　his　best　friend，’　said　the　Miller，　‘it　is　only　fair　that　I　should　have　the　best　place’；　so　he　walked　at　the　head　of　the　procession　in　a　long　black　cloak，　and　every　now　and　then　he　wiped　his　eyes　with　a　big　pocket…handkerchief。
“　‘Little　Hans　is　certainly　a　great　loss　to　every　one，’　said　the　Blacksmith，　when　the　funeral　was　over，　and　they　were　all　seated　fortably　in　the　inn，　drinking　spiced　wine　and　eating　sweet　cakes。
“　‘A　great　loss　to　me　at　any　rate，’　answered　the　Miller；　‘why，　I　had　as　good　as　given　him　my　wheelbarrow，　and　now　I　really　don’t　know　what　to　do　with　it。　It　is　very　much　in　my　way　at　home，　and　it　is　in　such　bad　repair　that　I　could　not　get　anything　for　it　if　I　sold　it。　I　will　certainly　take　care　not　to　give　away　anything　again。　One　always　suffers　for　being　generous。’　”
“Well？”　said　the　Water…rat，　after　a　long　pause。
“Well，　that　is　the　end，”　said　the　Lin。
“But　what　became　of　the　Miller？”　asked　the　Water…rat。
“Oh！　I　really　don’t　know，”　replied　the　Lin；　“and　I　am　sure　that　I　don’t　care。”
“It　is　quite　evident　then　that　you　have　no　sympathy　in　your　nature，”　said　the　Water…rat。
“I　am　afraid　you　don’t　quite　see　the　moral　of　the　story，”　remarked　the　Lin。
“The　what？”　screamed　the　Water…rat。
“The　moral。”
“Do　you　mean　to　say　that　the　story　has　a　moral？”
“Certainly，”　said　the　Lin。
“Well，　really，”　said　the　Water…rat，　in　a　very　angry　manner，　“I　think　you　should　have　told　me　that　before　you　began。　If　you　had　done　so，　I　certainly　would　not　have　listened　to　you；　in　fact，　I　should　have　said　‘Pooh，’　like　the　critic。　However，　I　can　say　it　now；”　so　he　shouted　out　“Pooh”　at　the　top　of　his　voice，　gave　a　whisk　with　his　tail，　and　went　back　into　his　hole。
“And　how　do　you　like　the　Water…rat？”　asked　the　Duck，　who　came　paddling　up　some　minutes　afterwards。　“He　has　a　great　many　good　points，　but　for　my　own　part　I　have　a　mother’s　feelings，　and　I　can　never　look　at　a　confirmed　bachelor　without　the　tears　ing　into　my　eyes。”
“I　am　rather　afraid　that　I　have　annoyed　him，”　answered　the　Lin。　“The　fact　is，　that　I　told　him　a　story　with　a　moral。”
“Ah！　that　is　always　a　very　dangerous　thing　to　do，”　said　the　Duck。
And　I　quite　agree　with　her。
★、The　Remarkable　RocketThe　King’s　son　was　going　to　be　married，　so　there　were　general　rejoicings。　He　had　waited　a　whole　year　for　his　bride，　and　at　last　she　had　arrived。　She　was　a　Russian　Princess，　and　had　driven　all　the　way　from　Finland　in　a　sledge　drawn　by　six　reindeer。　The　sledge　was　shaped　like　a　great　golden　swan，　and　between　the　swan’s　wings　lay　the　little　Princess　herself。　Her　long　ermine　cloak　reached　right　down　to　her　feet，　on　her　head　was　a　tiny　cap　of　silver　tissue，　and　she　was　as　pale　as　the　Snow　Palace　in　which　she　had　always　lived。　So　pale　was　she　that　as　she　drove　through　the　streets　all　the　people　wondered。　“She　is　like　a　white　rose！”　they　cried，　and　they　threw　down　flowers　on　her　from　the　balconies。
At　the　gate　of　the　Castle　the　Prince　was　waiting　to　receive　her。　He　had　dreamy　violet　eyes，　and　his　hair　was　like　fine　gold。　When　he　saw　her　he　sank　upon　one　knee，　and　kissed　her　hand。
“Your　picture　was　beautiful，”　he　murmured，　“but　you　are　more　beautiful　than　your　picture；”　and　the　little　Princess　blushed。
“She　was　like　a　white　rose　before，”　said　a　young　Page　to　his　neighbour，　“but　she　is　like　a　red　rose　now；”　and　the　whole　Court　was　delighted。
For　the　next　three　days　everybody　went　about　saying，　“White　rose，　Red　rose，　Red　rose，　White　rose；”　and　the　King　gave　orders　that　the　Page’s　salary　was　to　be　doubled。　As　he　received　no　salary　at　all　this　was　not　of　much　use　to　him，　but　it　was　considered　a　great　honour，　and　was　duly　published　in　the　Court　Gazette。
When　the　three　days　were　over　the　marriage　was　celebrated。　It　was　a　magnificent　ceremony，　and　the　bride　and　bridegroom　walked　hand　in　hand　under　a　canopy　of　purple　velvet　embroidered　with　little　pearls。　Then　there　was　a　State　Banquet，　which　lasted　for　five　hours。　The　Prince　and　Princess　sat　at　the　top