Short Stories
“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 some-
thing for me in return.’
“‘Certainly,’ cried little Hans, ‘I take it quite as a compliment
your coming 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 lan-
tern, 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,
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