Щасливий принц та інші казки
The Devoted Friend
"LittleHanshadagreatmanyfriends,butthemostdevotedfriendofallwasbigHughtheMiller.Indeed,sodevotedwastherichMillertolittleHans,thathewouldnevergobyhisgardenwithoutleaningoverthewallandpluckingalargenosegay,orahandfulofsweetherbs,orfillinghispocketswithplumsandcherriesifitwasthefruitseason.
"‘Realfriendsshouldhaveeverythingincommon,’theMillerusedtosay,andlittleHansnoddedandsmiled,andfeltveryproudofhavingafriendwithsuchnobleideas.
"Sometimes,indeed,theneighboursthoughtitstrangethattherichMillernevergavelittleHansanythinginreturn,thoughhehadahundredsacksofflourstoredawayinhismill,andsixmilchcows,andalargeflockofwoollysheep;butHansnevertroubledhisheadaboutthesethings,andnothinggavehimgreaterpleasurethantolistentoallthewonderfulthingstheMillerusedtosayabouttheunselfishnessoftruefriendship.
"SolittleHansworkedawayinhisgarden.Duringthespring,thesummer,andtheautumnhewasveryhappy,butwhenthewintercame,andhehadnofruitorflowerstobringtothemarket,hesufferedagooddealfromcoldandhunger,andoftenhadtogotobedwithoutanysupperbutafewdriedpearsorsomehardnuts.Inthewinter,also,hewasextremelylonely,astheMillernevercametoseehimthen.
"‘ThereisnogoodinmygoingtoseelittleHansaslongasthesnowlasts,’theMillerusedtosaytohiswife,‘forwhenpeopleareintroubletheyshouldbeleftaloneandnotbebotheredbyvisitors.
