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The Devoted Friend
Afterhehadwaitedtheresometime,hesoldthesackofflourforaverygoodprice,andthenhereturnedhomeatonce,forhewasafraidthatifhestoppedtoolatehemightmeetsomerobbersontheway.
"‘Ithascertainlybeenahardday,’saidlittleHanstohimselfashewasgoingtobed,‘butIamgladIdidnotrefusetheMiller,forheismybestfriend,and,besides,heisgoingtogivemehiswheelbarrow.’
"EarlythenextmorningtheMillercamedowntogetthemoneyforhissackofflour,butlittleHanswassotiredthathewasstillinbed.
"‘Uponmyword,’saidtheMiller,‘youareverylazy.Really,consideringthatIamgoingtogiveyoumywheelbarrow,Ithinkyoumightworkharder.Idlenessisagreatsin,andIcertainlydon’tlikeanyofmyfriendstobeidleorsluggish.Youmustnotmindmyspeakingquiteplainlytoyou.OfcourseIshouldnotdreamofdoingsoifIwerenotyourfriend.Butwhatisthegoodoffriendshipifonecannotsayexactlywhatonemeans?Anybodycansaycharmingthingsandtrytopleaseandtoflatter,butatruefriendalwayssaysunpleasantthings,anddoesnotmindgivingpain.Indeed,ifheisareallytruefriendheprefersit,forheknowsthatthenheisdoinggood.’
"‘Iamverysorry,’saidlittleHans,rubbinghiseyesandpullingoffhisnight-cap,‘butIwassotiredthatIthoughtIwouldlieinbedforalittletime,andlistentothebirdssinging.
