Short Stories
“‘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 un-
friendly 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 rob-
bers 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? Any-
body can say charming things and try to please and to flatter,
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