Щасливий принц та інші казки
The Devoted Friend
Atpresentyouhaveonlythepracticeoffriendship;somedayyouwillhavethetheoryalso.’
"‘DoyoureallythinkIshall?’askedlittleHans.
"‘Ihavenodoubtofit,’answeredtheMiller,‘butnowthatyouhavemendedtheroof,youhadbettergohomeandrest,forIwantyoutodrivemysheeptothemountainto-morrow.’
"PoorlittleHanswasafraidtosayanythingtothis,andearlythenextmorningtheMillerbroughthissheeproundtothecottage,andHansstartedoffwiththemtothemountain.Ittookhimthewholedaytogetthereandback;andwhenhereturnedhewassotiredthathewentofftosleepinhischair,anddidnotwakeuptillitwasbroaddaylight.
"‘WhatadelightfultimeIshallhaveinmygarden!’hesaid,andhewenttoworkatonce.
"Butsomehowhewasneverabletolookafterhisflowersatall,forhisfriendtheMillerwasalwayscomingroundandsendinghimoffonlongerrands,orgettinghimtohelpatthemill.LittleHanswasverymuchdistressedattimes,ashewasafraidhisflowerswouldthinkhehadforgottenthem,butheconsoledhimselfbythereflectionthattheMillerwashisbestfriend.‘Besides,’heusedtosay,‘heisgoingtogivemehiswheelbarrow,andthatisanactofpuregenerosity.’
"SolittleHansworkedawayfortheMiller,andtheMillersaidallkindsofbeautifulthingsaboutfriendship,whichHanstookdowninanotebook,andusedtoreadoveratnight,forhewasaverygoodscholar.
