Щасливий принц та інші казки
The Devoted Friend
Howluckyyoumentionedit!Itisquiteremarkablehowonegoodactionalwaysbreedsanother.Ihavegivenyoumywheelbarrow,andnowyouaregoingtogivemeyourplank.Ofcourse,thewheelbarrowisworthfarmorethantheplank,buttruefriendshipnevernoticesthingslikethat.Praygetitatonce,andIwillsettoworkatmybarnthisveryday.’
"‘Certainly,’criedlittleHans,andheranintotheshedanddraggedtheplankout.
"‘Itisnotaverybigplank,’saidtheMiller,lookingatit,‘andIamafraidthatafterIhavemendedmybarn-rooftherewon’tbeanyleftforyoutomendthewheelbarrowwith;but,ofcourse,thatisnotmyfault.Andnow,asIhavegivenyoumywheelbarrow,Iamsureyouwouldliketogivemesomeflowersinreturn.Hereisthebasket,andmindyoufillitquitefull.’
"‘Quitefull?’saidlittleHans,rathersorrowfully,foritwasreallyaverybigbasket,andheknewthatifhefilledithewouldhavenoflowersleftforthemarket,andhewasveryanxioustogethissilverbuttonsback.
"‘Well,really,’answeredtheMiller,‘asIhavegivenyoumywheelbarrow,Idon’tthinkthatitismuchtoaskyouforafewflowers.Imaybewrong,butIshouldhavethoughtthatfriendship,truefriendship,wasquitefreefromselfishnessofanykind.’
"‘Mydearfriend,mybestfriend,’criedlittleHans,‘youarewelcometoalltheflowersinmygarden.
