Short Stories
“What a silly question!” cried the Water-rat. “I should expect
my devoted friend to be devoted to me, of course.”
“And what would you do in return?” said the little bird,
swinging upon a silver spray, and flapping his tiny wings.
“I don’t understand you,” answered the Water-rat.
“Let me tell you a story on the subject,” said the Linnet.
“Is the story about me?” asked the Water-rat. “If so, I will lis-
ten to it, for I am extremely fond of fiction.”
“It is applicable to you,” answered the Linnet; and he flew
down, and alighting upon the bank, he told the story of The De-
voted Friend.
“Once upon a time,” said the Linnet, “there was an honest
little fellow named Hans.”
“Was he very distinguished?” asked the Water-rat.
“No,” answered the Linnet, “I don’t think he was distin-
guished at all, except for his kind heart, and his funny round
good-humoured face. He lived in a tiny cottage all by himself,
and every day he worked in his garden. In all the country-side
there was no garden so lovely as his. Sweet-william grew there,
and Gilly-flowers, and Shepherds’-purses, and Fair-maids of
France. There were damask Roses, and yellow Roses, lilac Cro-
cuses, and gold, purple Violets and white. Columbine and Lady-
smock, Marjoram and Wild Basil, the Cowslip and the Flower-de
-luce, the Daffodil and the Clove-Pink bloomed or blossomed in
their proper order as the months went by, one flower taking an-
other flower’s place, so that there were always beautiful things to
look at, and pleasant odours to smell.
“Little Hans had a great many friends, but the most devoted
friend of all was big Hugh the Miller.
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