'So little Hans worked away in his
garden. During the spring, the summer, and the autumn he was very happy, but
when the winter came, and he had no fruit or flowers to bring to the market, he
suffered a good deal from cold and hunger, and often had to go to bed without
any supper but a few dried pears or some hard nuts. Jn the winter, also, he was
extremely lonely, as the Miller never came to see him then.
'"There is no good in my going to
see little Hans as long as the snow lasts," the Miller used to say to his
wife, "for when people are in trouble they should be left alone, and not
be bothered by visitors. That at least is my idea about friendship, and I am
sure I am right. So I shall wait till the spring comes, and then I shall pay
him a visit, and he will be able to give me a large basket of primroses, and
that will make him so happy."
"You are certainly very thoughtful
about others," answered the Wife, as she sat in her comfortable armchair
by the big pinewood fire; "very thoughtful indeed. It is quite a treat to
hear you talk about friendship. I am sure the clergyman himself could not say
such beautiful things as you do, though he does live in a three-storied house,
and wears a gold ring on his little finger."
'"But could We not ask little Hans
up here?" said the Miller's youngest son. "If poor Hans is in trouble
I will give him half my porridge, and show him my white rabbits."
"What a silly boy you are!"
cried the Miller; "I really don't know what is the use of sending you to
school. You seem not to learn anything. Why, if little Hans came up here, and
saw our warm fire, and our good supper, and our great cask of red wine, he
might get envious, and envy is a most terrible thing, and would spoil anybody's
nature. I certainly will not allow Hans's nature to be spoiled. I am his best
friend, and I will always watch over him, and see that he is not led into any
temptations. Besides, if Hans came here, he might ask me to let him have some
flour on credit, and that I could not do. Flour is one thing, and friendship is
another, and they should not be confused. Why, the words are spelt differently,
and mean quite different things. Everybody can see that."
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