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第13部分（第1页）

，　and　grew　quite　scarlet，　and　began　to　cry　into　his　tea。　However，　he　was　so　young　that　you　must　excuse　him。”

“Is　that　the　end　of　the　story？”　asked　the　Water…rat。

“Certainly　not，”　answered　the　Lin，　“that　is　the　beginning。”

“Then　you　are　quite　behind　the　age，”　said　the　Water…rat。　“Every　good　story…teller　nowadays　starts　with　the　end，　and　then　goes　on　to　the　beginning，　and　concludes　with　the　middle。　That　is　the　new　method。　I　heard　all　about　it　the　other　day　from　a　critic　who　was　walking　round　the　pond　with　a　young　man。　He　spoke　of　the　matter　at　great　length，　and　I　am　sure　he　must　have　been　right，　for　he　had　blue　spectacles　and　a　bald　head，　and　whenever　the　young　man　made　any　remark，　he　always　answered　‘Pooh！’　But　pray　go　on　with　your　story。　I　like　the　Miller　immensely。　I　have　all　kinds　of　beautiful　sentiments　myself，　so　there　is　a　great　sympathy　between　us。”

“Well，”　said　the　Lin，　hopping　now　on　one　leg　and　now　on　the　other，　“as　soon　as　the　winter　was　over，　and　the　primroses　began　to　open　their　pale　yellow　stars，　the　Miller　said　to　his　wife　that　he　would　go　down　and　see　little　Hans。

“　‘Why，　what　a　good　heart　you　have！’　cried　his　Wife；　‘you　are　always　thinking　of　others。　And　mind　you　take　the　big　basket　with　you　for　the　flowers。’

“So　the　Miller　tied　the　sails　of　the　windmill　together　with　a　strong　iron　chain，　and　went　down　the　hill　with　the　basket　on　his　arm。

“　‘Good　morning，　little　Hans，’　said　the　Miller。

“　‘Good　morning，’　said　Hans，　leaning　on　his　spade，　and　smiling　from　ear　to　ear。

“　‘And　how　have　you　been　all　the　winter？’　said　the　Miller。

“　‘Well，　really，’　cried　Hans，　‘it　is　very　good　of　you　to　ask，　very　good　indeed。　I　am　afraid　I　had　rather　a　hard　time　of　it，　but　now　the　spring　has　e，　and　I　am　quite　happy，　and　all　my　flowers　are　doing　well。’

“　‘We　often　talked　of　you　during　the　winter，　Hans，’　said　the　Miller，　‘and　wondered　how　you　were　getting　on。’

“　‘That　was　kind　of　you，’　said　Hans；　‘I　was　half　afraid　you　had　forgotten　me。’

“　‘Hans，　I　am　surprised　at　you，’　said　the　Miller；　‘friendship　never　forgets。　That　is　the　wonderful　thing　about　it，　but　I　am　afraid　you　don’t　understand　the　poetry　of　life。　How　lovely　your　primroses　are　looking，　by…the…bye！’

“　‘They　are　certainly　very　lovely，’　said　Hans，　‘and　it　is　a　most　lucky　thing　for　me　that　I　have　so　many。　I　am　going　to　bring　them　into　the　market　and　sell　them　to　the　Burgomaster’s　daughter，　and　buy　back　my　wheelbarrow　with　the　money。’

“　‘Buy　back　your　wheelbarrow？　You　don’t　mean　to　say　you　have　sold　it？　What　a　very　stupid　thing　to　do！’

“　‘Well，　the　fact　is，’　said　Hans，　‘that　I　was　obliged　to。　You　see　the　winter　was　a　very　bad　time　for　me，　and　I　really　had　no　money　at　all　to　buy　bread　with。　So　I　first　sold　the　silver　buttons　off　my　Sunday　coat，　and　then　I　sold　my　silver　chain，　and　then　I　sold　my　big　pipe，　and　at　last　I　sold　my　wheelbarrow。　But　I　am　going　to　buy　them　all　back　again　now。’

“　‘Hans，’　said　the　Miller，　‘I　will　give　you　my　wheelbarrow。　It　is　not　in　very　good　repair；　indeed，　one　side　is　gone，　and　there　is　something　wrong　with　the　wheel…spokes；　but　in　spite　of　that　I　will　give　it　to　you。　I　know　it　is　very　generous　of　me，　and　a　great　many　people　would　think　me　extremely　foolish　for　parting　with　it，　but　I　am　not　like　the　rest　of　the　world。　I　think　that　generosity　is　the　essence　of　friendship，　and，　besides，　I　have　got　a　new　wheelbarrow　for　myself。　Yes，　you　may　set　your　mind　at　ease，　I　will　give　you　my　wheelbarrow。’

“　‘Well，　really，　that　is　generous　of　you，’　said　little　Hans，　and　his　funny　round　face　glowed　all　over　with　pleasure。　‘I　can　easily　put　it　in　repair，　as　I　have　a　plank　of　wood　in　the　house。’

“　‘A　plank　of　wood！’　said　the　Miller；　‘why，　that　is　just　what　I　want　for　the　roof　of　my　barn。　There　is　a　very　large　hole　in　it，　and　the　corn　will　all　get　damp　if　I　don’t　stop　it　up。　How　lucky　you　mentioned　it！　It　is　quite　remarkable　how　one　good　action　always　breeds　another。　I　have　given　you　my　wheelbarrow，　and　now　you　are　going　to　give　me　your　plank。　Of　course，　the　wheelbarrow　is　worth　far　more　than　the　plank，　but　true，　friendship　never　notices　things　like　that。　Pray　get　it　at　once，　and　I　will　set　to　work　at　my　barn　this　very　day。’

“　‘　Certainly，’　cried　little　Hans，　and　he　ran　into　the　shed　and　dragged　the　plank　out。

“　‘It　is　not　a　very　big　plank，　’　said　the　Miller，　looking　at　it，　‘and　I　am　afraid　that　after　I　have　mended　my　barn…roof　there　won’t　be　any　left　for　you　to　mend　the　wheelbarrow　with；　but，　of　course，　that　is　not　my　fault。　And　now，　as　I　have　given　you　my　wheelbarrow，　I　am　sure　you　would　like　to　give　me　some　flowers　in　return。　Here　is　the　basket，　and　mind　you　fill　it　quite　full。’

“　‘Quite　full？’　said　little　Hans，　rather　sorrowfully，　for　it　was　really　a　very　big　basket，　and　he　knew　that　if　he　filled　it　he　would　have　no　flowers　left　for　the　market　and　he　was　very　anxious　to　get　his　silver　buttons　back。

“　‘Well，　really，’　answered　the　Miller，　‘as　I　have　given　you　my　wheelbarrow，　I　don’t　think　that　it　is　much　to　ask　you　for　a　few　flowers。　I　may　be　wrong，　but　I　should　have　thought　that　friendship，　true　friendship，　was　quite　free　from　selfishness　of　any　kind。’

“　‘My　dear　friend，　my　best　friend，’　cried　little　Hans，　‘you　are　wele　to　all　the　flowers　in　my　garden。　I　would　much　sooner　have　your　good　opinion　than　my　silver　buttons，　any　day；’　and　he　ran　and　plucked　all　his　pretty　primroses，　and　filled　the　Miller’s　basket。

“　‘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。

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