Счастливый принц и другие сказки
The Devoted Friend
IamgoingtobringthemintothemarketandsellthemtotheBurgomaster’sdaughter,andbuybackmywheelbarrowwiththemoney.’
"‘Buybackyourwheelbarrow?Youdon’tmeantosayyouhavesoldit?Whataverystupidthingtodo!’
"‘Well,thefactis,’saidHans,‘thatIwasobligedto.Youseethewinterwasaverybadtimeforme,andIreallyhadnomoneyatalltobuybreadwith.SoIfirstsoldthesilverbuttonsoffmySundaycoat,andthenIsoldmysilverchain,andthenIsoldmybigpipe,andatlastIsoldmywheelbarrow.ButIamgoingtobuythemallbackagainnow.’
"‘Hans,’saidtheMiller,‘Iwillgiveyoumywheelbarrow.Itisnotinverygoodrepair;indeed,onesideisgone,andthereissomethingwrongwiththewheel-spokes;butinspiteofthatIwillgiveittoyou.Iknowitisverygenerousofme,andagreatmanypeoplewouldthinkmeextremelyfoolishforpartingwithit,butIamnotliketherestoftheworld.Ithinkthatgenerosityistheessenceoffriendship,and,besides,Ihavegotanewwheelbarrowformyself.Yes,youmaysetyourmindatease,Iwillgiveyoumywheelbarrow.’
"‘Well,really,thatisgenerousofyou,’saidlittleHans,andhisfunnyroundfaceglowedalloverwithpleasure.‘Icaneasilyputitinrepair,asIhaveaplankofwoodinthehouse.’
"‘Aplankofwood!’saidtheMiller;‘why,thatisjustwhatIwantfortheroofofmybarn.Thereisaverylargeholeinit,andthecornwillallgetdampifIdon’tstopitup.