铅笔书屋

第14部分（第1页）

oing　to　give　me　his　wheelbarrow，　and　that　is　an　act　of　pure　generosity。’

“So　little　Hans　worked　away　for　the　Miller，　and　the　Miller　said　all　kinds　of　beautiful　things　about　friendship，　which　Hans　took　down　in　a　note…book，　and　used　to　read　over　at　night，　for　he　was　a　very　good　scholar。

“Now　it　happened　that　one　evening　little　Hans　was　sitting　by　his　fireside　when　a　loud　rap　came　at　the　door。　It　was　a　very　wild　night，　and　the　wind　was　blowing　and　roaring　round　the　house　so　terribly　that　at　first　he　thought　it　was　merely　the　storm。　But　a　second　rap　came，　and　then　a　third，　louder　than　any　of　the　others。

“　‘It　is　some　poor　traveller，’　said　little　Hans　to　himself，　and　he　ran　to　the　door。

“There　stood　the　Miller　with　a　lantern　in　one　hand　and　a　big　stick　in　the　other。

“　‘Dear　little　Hans，’　cried　the　Miller，　‘I　am　in　great　trouble。　My　little　boy　has　fallen　off　a　ladder　and　hurt　himself，　and　I　am　going　for　the　Doctor。　But　he　lives　so　far　away，　and　it　is　such　a　bad　night，　that　it　has　just　occurred　to　me　that　it　would　be　much　better　if　you　went　instead　of　me。　You　know　I　am　going　to　give　you　my　wheelbarrow，　and　so，　it　is　only　fair　that　you　should　do　something　for　me　in　return。’

“　‘Certainly，’　cried　little　Hans，　‘I　take　it　quite　as　a　pliment　your　ing　to　me，　and　I　will　start　off　at　once。　But　you　must　lend　me　your　lantern，　as　the　night　is　so　dark　that　I　am　afraid　I　might　fall　into　the　ditch。’

“　‘I　am　very　sorry，’　answered　the　Miller，　‘but　it　is　my　new　lantern，　and　it　would　be　a　great　loss　to　me　if　anything　happened　to　it。’

“　‘Well，　never　mind，　I　will　do　without　it，’　cried　little　Hans，　and　he　took　down　his　great　fur　coat，　and　his　warm　scarlet　cap，　and　tied　a　muffler　round　his　throat，　and　started　off。

“What　a　dreadful　storm　it　was！　The　night　was　so　black　that　little　Hans　could　hardly　see，　and　the　wind　was　so　strong　that　he　could　scarcely　stand。　However，　he　was　very　courageous，　and　after　he　had　been　walking　about　three　hours，　he　arrived　at　the　Doctor’s　house，　and　knocked　at　the　door。

“　‘Who　is　there？’　cried　the　Doctor，　putting　his　head　out　of　his　bedroom　window。

“　‘Little　Hans，　Doctor。’

“　‘What　do　you　want，　little　Hans？’

“　‘The　Miller’s　son　has　fallen　from　a　ladder，　and　has　hurt　himself，　and　the　Miller　wants　you　to　e　at　once。’

“　‘All　right！’　said　the　Doctor；　and　he　ordered　his　horse，　and　his　big　boots，　and　his　lantern，　and　came　downstairs，　and　rode　off　in　the　direction　of　the　Miller’s　house，　little　Hans　trudging　behind　him。

“But　the　storm　grew　worse　and　worse，　and　the　rain　fell　in　torrents，　and　little　Hans　could　not　see　where　he　was　going，　or　keep　up　with　the　horse。　At　last　he　lost　his　way，　and　wandered　off　on　the　moor，　which　was　a　very　dangerous　place，　as　it　was　full　of　deep　holes，　and　there　poor　little　Hans　was　drowned。　His　body　was　found　the　next　day　by　some　goatherds，　floating　in　a　great　pool　of　water，　and　was　brought　back　by　them　to　the　cottage。

“Everybody　went　to　little　Hans’　funeral，　as　he　was　so　popular，　and　the　Miller　was　the　chief　mourner。

“　‘As　I　was　his　best　friend，’　said　the　Miller，　‘it　is　only　fair　that　I　should　have　the　best　place’；　so　he　walked　at　the　head　of　the　procession　in　a　long　black　cloak，　and　every　now　and　then　he　wiped　his　eyes　with　a　big　pocket…handkerchief。

“　‘Little　Hans　is　certainly　a　great　loss　to　every　one，’　said　the　Blacksmith，　when　the　funeral　was　over，　and　they　were　all　seated　fortably　in　the　inn，　drinking　spiced　wine　and　eating　sweet　cakes。

“　‘A　great　loss　to　me　at　any　rate，’　answered　the　Miller；　‘why，　I　had　as　good　as　given　him　my　wheelbarrow，　and　now　I　really　don’t　know　what　to　do　with　it。　It　is　very　much　in　my　way　at　home，　and　it　is　in　such　bad　repair　that　I　could　not　get　anything　for　it　if　I　sold　it。　I　will　certainly　take　care　not　to　give　away　anything　again。　One　always　suffers　for　being　generous。’　”

“Well？”　said　the　Water…rat，　after　a　long　pause。

“Well，　that　is　the　end，”　said　the　Lin。

“But　what　became　of　the　Miller？”　asked　the　Water…rat。

“Oh！　I　really　don’t　know，”　replied　the　Lin；　“and　I　am　sure　that　I　don’t　care。”

“It　is　quite　evident　then　that　you　have　no　sympathy　in　your　nature，”　said　the　Water…rat。

“I　am　afraid　you　don’t　quite　see　the　moral　of　the　story，”　remarked　the　Lin。

“The　what？”　screamed　the　Water…rat。

“The　moral。”

“Do　you　mean　to　say　that　the　story　has　a　moral？”

“Certainly，”　said　the　Lin。

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