Щасливий принц та інші казки
The Devoted Friend
"Well,"saidtheLinnet,hoppingnowononelegandnowontheother,"assoonasthewinterwasover,andtheprimrosesbegantoopentheirpaleyellowstars,theMillersaidtohiswifethathewouldgodownandseelittleHans.
"‘Why,whatagoodheartyouhave!’criedhisWife;‘youarealwaysthinkingofothers.Andmindyoutakethebigbasketwithyoufortheflowers.’
"SotheMillertiedthesailsofthewindmilltogetherwithastrongironchain,andwentdownthehillwiththebasketonhisarm.
"‘Goodmorning,littleHans,’saidtheMiller.
"‘Goodmorning,’saidHans,leaningonhisspade,andsmilingfromeartoear.
"‘Andhowhaveyoubeenallthewinter?’saidtheMiller.
"‘Well,really,’criedHans,‘itisverygoodofyoutoask,verygoodindeed.IamafraidIhadratherahardtimeofit,butnowthespringhascome,andIamquitehappy,andallmyflowersaredoingwell.’
"‘Weoftentalkedofyouduringthewinter,Hans,’saidtheMiller,‘andwonderedhowyouweregettingon.’
"‘Thatwaskindofyou,’saidHans;‘Iwashalfafraidyouhadforgottenme.’
"‘Hans,Iamsurprisedatyou,’saidtheMiller;‘friendshipneverforgets.Thatisthewonderfulthingaboutit,butIamafraidyoudon’tunderstandthepoetryoflife.Howlovelyyourprimrosesarelooking,by-the-bye!’
"‘Theyarecertainlyverylovely,’saidHans,‘anditisamostluckythingformethatIhavesomany.
