'"Good-bye, little Hans," said the Miller, as he went up
the hill with the plank on his shoulder, and the big basket in his hand.
'"Good-bye," said little Hans,
and he began to dig away quite merrily, he was so pleased about the
wheelbarrow.
'The next day he was nailing up some
honeysuckle against the porch, when he heard the Miller's voice calling to him
from the road. So he jumped off the ladder, and ran down the garden, and looked
over the wall.
'There was the Miller with a large sack
of flour on his back.
'"Dear little Hans," said the
Miller, "would you mind carrying this sack of flour for me to
market?"
'"Oh, I am so sorry," said
Hans,"but I am really very busy to-day. I have got all my creepers to nail
up, and all my flowers to water, and all my grass to roll."
'"Well, really," said the
Miller, "I think that, considering that I am going to give you my
wheelbarrow, it is rather unfriendly of you to refuse."
'"Oh, don't say that," cried
little Hans, "I wouldn't be unfriendly for the whole world;" and he
ran in for his cap, and trudged off with the big sack on his shoulders.
'It was a very hot day, and the road was
terribly dusty, and before Hans had reached the sixth milestone he was so tired
that he had to sit down and rest. However, he went on bravely, and at last he
reached the market. After he had waited there some time, he sold the sack of
flour for a very good price, and then he returned home at once, for he was
afraid that if he stopped too late he might meet some robbers on the way.
"It has certainly been a hard
day," said little Hans to himself as he was going to bed, "but I am
glad I did not refuse the Miller, for he is my best friend, and, besides, he is
going to give me his wheelbarrow."
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