WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:04.559 The devoted friend. One morning, the old water rat put 2 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:08.119 his head out of his hole. He had bright, beady 3 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:12.160 eyes and stiff gray whiskers, and his tail was like 4 00:00:12.199 --> 00:00:16.280 a long bit of black India rubber. The little ducks 5 00:00:16.280 --> 00:00:19.039 were swimming about in the pond, looking just like a 6 00:00:19.079 --> 00:00:22.160 lot of yellow canaries, and their mother, who was pure 7 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:25.640 white with real red legs, was trying to teach them 8 00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:29.160 how to stand on their heads in the water. You 9 00:00:29.239 --> 00:00:32.320 will never be in the best society unless you can 10 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:35.640 stand on your heads, she kept saying to them, and 11 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:38.399 every now and then she showed them how it was done. 12 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:41.799 But the little ducks paid no attention to her. They 13 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:43.920 were so young that they did not know what an 14 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:47.960 advantage it is to be in society at all. What 15 00:00:48.119 --> 00:00:52.600 disobedient children, cried the old water rat. They really deserve 16 00:00:52.679 --> 00:00:57.200 to be drowned. Nothing of the kind, answered the duck. 17 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:00.560 Every One must make a beginning, and parents cannot be 18 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:05.560 too patient. Ah, I know nothing about the feelings of parents, 19 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:08.680 said the water at. I am not a family man. 20 00:01:09.239 --> 00:01:12.200 In fact, I have never been married, and I never 21 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:15.680 intend to be. Love is all very well in its way, 22 00:01:15.879 --> 00:01:20.400 but friendship is much higher. Indeed, I know of nothing 23 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:23.200 in the world that is either nobler or rarer than 24 00:01:23.239 --> 00:01:28.159 a devoted friendship. And what, pray, is your idea of 25 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:31.400 the duties of a devoted friend, asked a green linnet, 26 00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:34.000 who was sitting in a willow tree hard by and 27 00:01:34.079 --> 00:01:38.400 had overheard the conversation. Yes, that is just what I 28 00:01:38.439 --> 00:01:41.239 want to know, said the duck, and she swam away 29 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:43.319 to the end of the pond and stood up on 30 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:46.120 her head, in order to give her children a good example. 31 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:50.519 What a silly question, cried the water at. I should 32 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:53.760 expect my devoted friend to be devoted to me, of course, 33 00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:58.599 And what would you do in return, said the little bird, 34 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:03.280 swinging upon a silver and flapping his tiny wings. I 35 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:07.920 don't understand you, answered the water at. Let me tell 36 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:11.599 you a story on the subject, said the linet. Is 37 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:15.000 the story about me, asked the water at. If so, 38 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:18.319 I will listen to it, for I am extremely fond 39 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:22.560 of fiction. It is applicable to you, answered the linet, 40 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:25.840 and he flew down, and, alighting upon the bank, he 41 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:29.919 told the story of the devoted friend. Once upon a time, 42 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:34.159 said the linette, there was an honest little fellow named Hans. 43 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:39.680 Was he very distinguished? Asked the water at no answered 44 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:42.680 the linette. I don't think he was distinguished at all, 45 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:46.840 except for his kind heart and his funny, round, good 46 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:51.280 humored face. He lived in a tiny cottage all by himself, 47 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:55.080 and every day he worked in his garden. In all 48 00:02:55.159 --> 00:02:58.240 the countryside, there was no garden so lovely as his 49 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:03.080 sweet William grew there, and gilly flowers and shepherds purses 50 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:07.039 and fair maids of France. There were damask roses and 51 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:12.080 yellow roses, lilac crocuses, and gold purple violets, and white 52 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:17.840 columbine and ladysmock marjoram, and wild basil. The cowslip and 53 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:21.039 the flower de luke, the daffodil, and the clove pink 54 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:24.599 bloomed or blossomed in their proper order. As the months 55 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:28.840 went by, one flower taking another flower's place, so that 56 00:03:28.919 --> 00:03:32.199 there was always beautiful things to look at and pleasant 57 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:36.800 odors to smell. Little Hans had a great many friends, 58 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:40.240 but the most devoted friend of all was Big Hugh 59 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:44.199 the Miller. Indeed, so devoted was the rich miller to 60 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:47.039 Little Hans that he would never go by his garden 61 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:50.439 without leaning over the wall and plucking a large nosegay, 62 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:54.000 or a handful of sweet herbs, or filling his pockets 63 00:03:54.039 --> 00:03:56.919 with plums and cherries if it was the fruit season. 64 00:03:58.840 --> 00:04:02.960 Real friends should have everything in common, the miller used 65 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.479 to say, and Little Hans nodded and smiled, and felt 66 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:11.759 very proud of having a friend with such noble ideas. Sometimes, indeed, 67 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:15.000 the neighbors thought it strange that the rich miller never 68 00:04:15.080 --> 00:04:18.360 gave Little Hans anything in return, though he had a 69 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:21.519 hundred sacks of flowers stored away in his mill, and 70 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:25.160 six milch cows and a large flock of wooly sheep. 71 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:29.319 But Hans never troubled his head about these things, and 72 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:32.519 nothing gave him greater pleasure than to listen to all 73 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:35.480 the wonderful things the miller used to say about the 74 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:40.600 unselfishness of true friendship. So Little Hans worked away in 75 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:44.160 his garden during the spring, the summer, and the autumn. 76 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:48.120 He was very happy. But when the winter came and 77 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:51.319 he had no fruit or flowers to bring to the market, 78 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:55.399 he suffered a good deal from cold and hunger, and 79 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:58.240 often had to go to bed without any supper. But 80 00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:02.240 a few dried pears or some hard nuts in the 81 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:06.639 winter also he was extremely lonely, as the miller never 82 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:10.360 came to see him. Then there is no good in 83 00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:12.600 my going to see little Hans as long as the 84 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:15.839 snow lasts, the miller used to say to his wife, 85 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:18.639 For when people are in trouble, they should be left 86 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:22.480 alone and not be bothered by visitors. That at least 87 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:25.319 is my idea about friendship. And I am sure I 88 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:28.240 am right. So I shall wait till the spring comes, 89 00:05:28.519 --> 00:05:30.959 and then I shall pay him a visit, and he 90 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:34.240 will be able to give me a large basket of primroses, 91 00:05:34.519 --> 00:05:38.720 and that will make him so happy. You are certainly 92 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.600 very thoughtful about others, answered the wife, as she sat 93 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:44.879 in her comfortable arm chair. But the big pinewood fire 94 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:48.680 very thoughtful. Indeed, it is quite a treat to hear 95 00:05:48.759 --> 00:05:52.480 you talk about friendship. I'm sure the clergyman himself could 96 00:05:52.519 --> 00:05:55.399 not say such beautiful things as you do, though he 97 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:57.600 does live in a three storied house and wear a 98 00:05:57.639 --> 00:06:02.360 gold ring on his little finger. But could we not 99 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:05.759 ask little Hans up here? Said the miller's youngest son. 100 00:06:06.279 --> 00:06:09.000 If poor Hans is in trouble, I will give him 101 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:12.759 half my porridge and show him my white rabbits. What 102 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:16.240 a silly boy you are, cried the miller. I really 103 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:18.600 don't know. What is the use of sending you to school. 104 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:22.879 You seem not to learn anything. Why if little Hans 105 00:06:22.920 --> 00:06:25.800 came up here and saw our warm fire, and our 106 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:29.199 good supper and our great cask of red wine, he 107 00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:33.279 might get envious, And envy is a most terrible thing 108 00:06:33.720 --> 00:06:38.639 and would spoil anybody's nature. I certainly will not allow 109 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:42.120 hans nature to be spoiled. I am his best friend, 110 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:45.439 and I will always watch over him and see that 111 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:49.759 he is not led into any temptations. Besides, if Hans 112 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:52.120 came here, he might ask me to let him have 113 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:55.680 some flower on credit, and that I could not do. 114 00:06:56.560 --> 00:06:59.720 Flower is one thing, and friendship is another. And they 115 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:03.839 shall not be confused. Why the words are spelt differently 116 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:08.560 and mean quite different things. Everybody can see that. How 117 00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:11.920 will you talk, said the miller's wife, pouring herself out 118 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:16.439 a large glass of warm ale. Really I feel quite drowsy. 119 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:20.800 It is just like being in church. Lots of people 120 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:24.480 act well, answered the miller, but very few people talk will, 121 00:07:25.079 --> 00:07:28.160 which shows that talking is much the more difficult thing 122 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:32.079 of the two, and much the finer thing also, and 123 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:34.879 he looked sternly across the table at his little son, 124 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:37.720 who felt so ashamed of himself that he hung his 125 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:41.240 head down and grew quiet scarlet, and began to cry 126 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:45.360 into his tea. However, he was so young that you 127 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:49.639 must excuse him. Is that the end of the story, 128 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:53.920 asked the water rat. Certainly not, answered the linen. That 129 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:58.920 is the beginning. Then you are quite behind the age, 130 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:03.399 said the water at. Every good story teller nowadays starts 131 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:06.079 with the end, and then goes on to the beginning 132 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:09.560 and concludes with the middle. That is the new method. 133 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:12.360 I heard all about it the other day from her critic, 134 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:15.120 who was walking around the pond with a young man. 135 00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:18.360 He spoke of the matter at great length. And I 136 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:21.160 am sure he must have been right, for he had 137 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:24.639 blue spectacles and a bald head. And whenever the young 138 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:29.639 man made any remark, he always answered, pooh, but pray, 139 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:33.120 go on with your story. I like the miller immensely. 140 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:36.960 I have all kinds of beautiful sentiments myself. So there 141 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:40.919 is a great sympathy between us, well, said Linette, hopping 142 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:43.639 now on one leg and now on the other. As 143 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:46.480 soon as the winter was over and the primroses began 144 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:49.799 to open their pale yellow stars. The miller said to 145 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:52.960 his wife that he would go down and see little Hans. 146 00:08:53.559 --> 00:08:56.360 Why what a good heart you have, cried his wife. 147 00:08:56.840 --> 00:08:59.759 You are always thinking of others, And mind you take 148 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:03.240 the big basket with you for the flowers. So the 149 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:05.639 miller tied the sails of the wind altogether with a 150 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:08.399 strong iron chain and went down the hill with the 151 00:09:08.440 --> 00:09:12.600 basket on his arm. Good morning, little Hans, said the miller. 152 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:16.159 Good morning, said Hans, leaning on his spade and smiling 153 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:19.720 from ear to ear. And how have you been all 154 00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:23.879 the winter, said the miller. Well, really, cried Hans. It 155 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:26.240 is very good of you to ask, very good indeed, 156 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:28.759 I am afraid I had rather a hard time of it. 157 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:30.960 But now the spring has come and I am quite happy, 158 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:34.639 and all my flowers are doing well. We often talked 159 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:37.200 of you during the winter, Hans, said the miller, and 160 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:40.320 wondered how you were getting on. That was kind of you, 161 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:44.720 said Hans. I was half afraid you had forgotten me. Hans. 162 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:48.879 I'm surprised at you, said the miller. Friendship never forgets, 163 00:09:49.240 --> 00:09:52.080 that is the wonderful thing about it. But I'm afraid 164 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:55.639 you don't understand the poetry of life. How lovely your 165 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:59.960 primroses are looking by the bye. They are certainly very low, 166 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:03.120 said Hans, And it is a most lucky thing for 167 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:05.279 me that I have so many. I am going to 168 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:08.080 bring them into the market and sell them to Burgomaster's 169 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:12.039 daughter and buy back my wheelbarrow with the money. Buy 170 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:15.279 back your wheelbarrow. You don't mean to say you sold it. 171 00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:19.039 What a very stupid thing to do. Well, the fact is, 172 00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:22.799 said Hans, that I was obliged to you. See, the 173 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:25.000 winter was a very bad time for me, and I 174 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:27.000 really had no money at all to buy bread with. 175 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:30.480 So I first sold the silver buttons off my Sunday coat, 176 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:33.600 and then I sold my silver chain, and then I 177 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:37.440 sold my big pipe, and at last I sold my wheelbarrow. 178 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:41.360 But I'm going to buy them all back again now, Hans, 179 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:44.639 said the miller. I will give you my wheelbarrow. It 180 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:47.879 is not in very good repair. Indeed one side is gone, 181 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:50.639 and there is something wrong with the wheel spokes. But 182 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:52.360 in spite of that, I will give it to you. 183 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:54.720 I know it is very generous of me, and a 184 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:58.360 great many people would think me extremely foolish for parting 185 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:00.519 with it. But I am not like the rest of 186 00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:04.159 the world. I think that generosity is the essence of friendship. 187 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:08.960 And besides, I have got a new wheelbarrow for myself. Yes, 188 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:11.039 you may set your mind at ease, and I will 189 00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:14.759 give you my wheelbarrow. Well, really, that is generous of you, 190 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:18.600 said little Hans, and his funny round face glowed all 191 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:21.919 over with pleasure. I can easily put it in repair, 192 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:24.159 as I have a plank of wood in the house. 193 00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:27.799 A plank of wood, said the miller. Why that is 194 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:29.879 just what I want for the roof of my barn. 195 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:32.480 There is a very large hole in it, and the 196 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:35.120 corn will all get damp if I don't stop it up. 197 00:11:35.559 --> 00:11:38.759 How lucky you mentioned it. It is quite remarkable how 198 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:42.279 one good action always breeds another. I have given you 199 00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:44.960 my wheelbarrow, and now you are going to give me 200 00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:48.480 your plank. Of course, the wheelbarrow is worth far more 201 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:54.360 than the plank. But true friendship never notices things like that. Pray, 202 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:56.320 get it at once, and I will set at work 203 00:11:56.480 --> 00:12:00.559 at my barn this very day. Certainly, creedl Hans, and 204 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:03.799 he ran into the shed and dragged the plank out. 205 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:06.799 It's not a very big plank, said the miller, looking 206 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:09.600 at it. And I'm afraid that after I have mended 207 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:11.759 my barn roof, there won't be any left for you 208 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:14.759 to mend the wheelbarrow with. But of course that's not 209 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:18.320 my fault. And now, as I have given you my wheelbarrow, 210 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:20.120 I am sure you would like to give me some 211 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:23.679 flowers in return. Here is the basket, and mind you 212 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:28.600 full it quite full, Quite full, said little Hans, rather sorrowfully, 213 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:31.440 for it was really a very big basket, and he 214 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:34.320 knew that if he filled it he would have no 215 00:12:34.440 --> 00:12:37.279 flowers left for the market, and he was very anxious 216 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:41.120 to get his silver buttons back. Well, really, answered the miller, 217 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:44.159 as I have given you my wheelbarrow, I don't think 218 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:46.200 that as much to ask you for a few flowers. 219 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:49.879 I may be wrong, but I should have thought that friendship, 220 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:53.759 true friendship, was quite free from selfishness of any kind. 221 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:58.799 My dear friend, my best friend, cried little Hans. You 222 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:01.360 are welcome to all the flo in my garden. I 223 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:04.399 would much sooner have your good opinion than my silver 224 00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:07.679 buttons any day. And he ran and plucked all his 225 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:12.159 pretty primroses and filled the miller's basket. Goodbye, Little Hans, 226 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:14.000 said the miller, as he went up the hill with 227 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:16.279 the plank on his shoulder and the big basket in 228 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:20.000 his hand. Good Bye, said little Hans, and he began 229 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:22.919 to dig away quite merrily. He was so pleased about 230 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:26.360 the wheelbarrow. The next day, he was nailing up some 231 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:30.000 honeysuckle against the porch when he heard the miller's voice 232 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:32.720 calling to him from the road. So he jumped off 233 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:35.000 the ladder and ran down the garden and looked over 234 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:38.039 the wall. There was the miller with a large sack 235 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:41.960 of flower on his back. Dear Little Hans, said the miller. 236 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:44.519 Would you mind carrying this sack of flour for me 237 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:48.919 to market? Oh? I'm so sorry, said Hans, but I'm 238 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:51.679 really very busy to day. I have got all my 239 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:54.440 creepers to nail up, and all my flowers to water, 240 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:58.960 and all my grass to roll. Well, really, said the miller, 241 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:01.840 I think that, considering that I am going to give 242 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:05.159 you my wheelbarrow, it is rather unfriendly of you to refuse. 243 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:09.440 Oh don't say that, cried little Hans. I wouldn't be 244 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:12.639 unfriendly for the whole world. And he ran in for 245 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:14.960 his cap and trudged off with the big sack on 246 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:19.000 his shoulders. It was a very hot day, and the 247 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:22.759 road was terribly dusty, and before Hans had reached the 248 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:25.879 sixth milestone he was so tired that he had to 249 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:29.600 sit down and rest. However, he went on bravely, and 250 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:33.039 at last he reached the market. After he had waited 251 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:35.639 there some time, he sold a sack of flour for 252 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:38.799 a very good price, and then he returned home at once, 253 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:41.440 for he was afraid that if he stopped too late, 254 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:45.080 he might meet some robbers on the way. It has 255 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:48.120 certainly been a hard day, said Little Hans to himself, 256 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:50.320 as he was going to bed. But I am glad 257 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:52.600 I did not refuse the miller, for he is my 258 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:56.639 best friend, and besides, he's going to give me his wheelbarrow. 259 00:14:57.840 --> 00:15:00.279 Early the next morning, the miller came down to get 260 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:03.120 the money for his sack of flower, but Little Hans 261 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:06.519 was so tired that he was still in bed. Upon 262 00:15:06.679 --> 00:15:10.720 my word, said the miller, you are very lazy, really, 263 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:13.559 considering that I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, 264 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:17.240 I think you might work harder. Idleness is a great sin, 265 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:19.759 and I certainly don't like any of my friends to 266 00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:23.039 be idle or sluggish. You must not mind my speaking 267 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:26.080 quite plainly to you. Of course, I should not dream 268 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:28.960 of doing so if I are not your friend. But 269 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:31.320 what is the good of friendship if one cannot say 270 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:35.360 exactly what one means. Anybody can say charming things and 271 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:38.519 try to please and to flatter, But a true friend 272 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:43.000 always says unpleasant things and does not mind giving pain. Indeed, 273 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:45.799 if he is a really true friend, he prefers it, 274 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:49.320 for he knows that then he is doing good. I 275 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:52.559 am very sorry, said little Hans, rubbing his eyes and 276 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:55.919 pulling off his night cap. But I was so tired 277 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:57.480 that I thought I would lie in bed for a 278 00:15:57.480 --> 00:16:00.919 little time and listen to the birds singing. Do you 279 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:05.000 know that I always work better after hearing the birds sing. Well, 280 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:07.960 I'm glad of that, said the miller, clapping Little Hans 281 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:10.159 on his back, for I want you to come up 282 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:12.399 to the mill as soon as you are dressed and 283 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:16.440 mend my barn roof for me. Poor little Hans was 284 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:19.279 very anxious to go and work in his garden, for 285 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:22.279 his flowers had not been watered for two days. But 286 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:25.120 he did not like to refuse the miller, as he 287 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:28.200 was such a good friend to him. Do you think 288 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:30.720 it would be unfriendly of me if I said I 289 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:35.279 was busy, he inquired, in a shy and timid voice. Well, really, 290 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:37.840 answered the miller, I do not think it is much 291 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:39.919 to ask of you, considering that I am going to 292 00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:42.960 give you my wheelbarrow. But of course if you refuse, 293 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:46.360 I'll go and do it myself. Oh, on no account, 294 00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:48.840 cried little Hans, and he jumped out of bed and 295 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:52.440 dressed himself and went up to the barn. He worked 296 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:55.559 there all day long till sunset, and at sunset the 297 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:58.360 miller came to see how he was getting on. Have 298 00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:01.320 you mended the hole in the roof, little Hans, cried 299 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:04.200 the miller in a cheery voice. It is quite mended, 300 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:07.920 answered little Hans, coming down the ladder. Ah, said the miller. 301 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:10.799 There is no work so delightful as the work one 302 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:14.920 does for others. It is certainly a great privilege to 303 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:18.200 hear you talk, answered little Hans, sitting down and wiping 304 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:22.039 his forehead. A very great privilege. But I am afraid 305 00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:26.240 I shall never have such beautiful ideas as you have. Oh, 306 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:29.079 they will come to you, said the miller, But you 307 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:32.240 must take more pains At present you have only the 308 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:35.759 practice of friendship. Some day you will have the theory also, 309 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:40.119 do you really think I shall, said little Hans. I 310 00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:43.079 have no doubt of it, answered the miller. But now 311 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:45.559 that you have mended the roof, you had better go 312 00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:48.160 home and rest, for I want you to drive my 313 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:52.039 sheep to the mountain tomorrow. Poor little Hans was afraid 314 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:54.920 to say anything to this, and early the next morning 315 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:57.720 the miller brought his sheep round to the cottage, and 316 00:17:57.839 --> 00:18:00.720 Hans started off with them to the mountain. It took 317 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:03.680 him the whole day to get there and back, and 318 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:06.559 when he returned he was so tired that he went 319 00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:09.039 off to sleep in his chair and did not wake 320 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:12.680 up till it was broad daylight. What a delightful time 321 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.079 I shall have in my garden, he said, and he 322 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:18.400 went to work at once. But somehow he was never 323 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:21.519 able to look after his flowers at all, for his friend, 324 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:24.680 the miller, was always coming round and sending him off 325 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:27.640 on long errands or getting him to help at the mill. 326 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:32.319 Little Hans was very much distressed at times, as he 327 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:35.039 was afraid his flowers would think he had forgotten them, 328 00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:38.200 But he consoled himself by the reflection that the miller 329 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:41.880 was his best friend. Besides, he used to say, he 330 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:44.480 is going to give me his wheelbarrow, and that is 331 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:48.440 an act of pure generosity. So little Hans worked away 332 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:50.960 for the miller, and the miller said all kinds of 333 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:54.240 beautiful things about friendship, which Hans took down in a 334 00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:56.480 note book and used to read over it at night, 335 00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:00.000 for he was a very good scholar. Now it happened 336 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:03.640 that one evening Little Hans was sitting by his fireside 337 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:06.640 when a loud rap came at the door. It was 338 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:09.400 a very wild night, and the wind was blowing and 339 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:12.920 roaring round the house so terribly that at first he 340 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:16.319 thought it was merely the storm. But a second rap came, 341 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:19.400 and then a third, louder than any of the others. 342 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:22.799 It is some poor traveler, said little Hans to himself, 343 00:19:22.839 --> 00:19:25.920 and he ran to the door. There stood the miller, 344 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:28.920 with a lantern in one hand and a big stick 345 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:32.519 in the other. Dear little Hans, cried the miller. I 346 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:35.559 am in great trouble. My little boy has fallen off 347 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:38.119 a ladder and hurt himself, and I am going for 348 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:41.000 the doctor. But he lives so far away, and it 349 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:43.880 is such a bad night that it has just occurred 350 00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:45.759 to me that it would be much better if you 351 00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:48.559 went instead of me. You know, I'm going to give 352 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:51.160 you my wheelbarrow, and so it is only fair that 353 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:54.920 you should do something for me in return, certainly, cried 354 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:57.640 little Hans. I take it quiet as a compliment you 355 00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:59.880 coming to me, and I will start off at once, 356 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:03.160 But you must lend me your lantern, as the night 357 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:05.319 is so dark and I am afraid I might fall 358 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:08.920 into the ditch. I am very sorry, answered the miller, 359 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:11.720 but it is my new lantern and it would be 360 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:15.240 a great loss to me if anything happened to it. Well, 361 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:18.200 never mind, I will do without it, cried Little Hans, 362 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:20.799 and he took down his great fur coat and his 363 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:23.920 warm scarlet cap, and tied a muffler round his throat 364 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:28.440 and started off. What a dreadful storm it was. The 365 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:31.480 night was so black that Little Hans could hardly see, 366 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:36.440 and the wind was so strong that he could hardly stand. However, 367 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:39.599 he was very courageous, and after he had been walking 368 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:42.400 about three hours, he arrived at the doctor's house and 369 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:46.599 knocked at the door. Who's there, cried the doctor, putting 370 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:49.960 his hat out of his bedroom window, little Hans, Doctor, 371 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:53.640 what do you want, little Hans? The miller's sound has 372 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:56.680 fallen from a ladder and has hurt himself, and the 373 00:20:56.720 --> 00:21:00.680 miller wants you to come at once. All right, said 374 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:03.880 the doctor, and he ordered his horse and his big 375 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:07.240 boots and his lantern, and came downstairs and rode off 376 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:10.319 in the direction of the miller's house, little Hans trudging 377 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:14.079 behind him. But the storm grew worse and worse, and 378 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:17.000 the rain fell in torrents, and little Hans could not 379 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:19.799 see where he was going or keep up with the horse. 380 00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:23.240 At last he lost his way and wandered off on 381 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:26.400 the moor, which was a very dangerous place, as it 382 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:29.640 was full of deep holes, and there poor little Hans 383 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:32.640 was drowned. His body was found the next day by 384 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:36.400 some goatherds floating in a great pool of water, and 385 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:40.759 was brought back by them to the cottage. Everybody went 386 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:44.240 to little Hans's funeral, as he was so popular, and 387 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:47.599 the miller was the chief mourner. As I was his 388 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:50.640 best friend, said the miller, it was only fair that 389 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:53.920 I should have the best place. So he walked at 390 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:56.680 the head of the procession in a long black cloak 391 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:59.279 and every now and then he wiped his eyes with 392 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:04.400 a big pocket handkerchief. Little Hans is certainly a great 393 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:07.559 loss to every one, said the blacksmith, when the funeral 394 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:10.680 was over and they were all seated comfortably in the inn, 395 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:15.200 drinking spiced wine and eating sweet cakes. A great loss 396 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:18.119 to me at any rate, answered the miller. Why I 397 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:21.279 had as good as given him my wheelbarrow, and now 398 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:23.920 I really don't know what to do with it. It 399 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:26.359 is very much in my way at home, and it 400 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:28.599 is in such bad repair that I could not get 401 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:31.720