第6部分(第3/7 页)

that　I　thought　I　would　lie　in　bed　for　a　little

time；　and　listen　to　the　birds　singing。　Do　you　know　that　I　always　work

better　after　hearing　the　birds　sing？'

〃'Well；　I　am　glad　of　that；'　said　the　Miller；　clapping　little　Hans　on　the

back；　'for　I　want　you　to　e　up　to　the　mill　as　soon　as　you　are　dressed；

and　mend　my　barn…roof　for　me。'

〃Poor　little　Hans　was　very　anxious　to　go　and　work　in　his　garden；　for

his　flowers　had　not　been　watered　for　two　days；　but　he　did　not　like　to　refuse

the　Miller；　as　he　was　such　a　good　friend　to　him。

〃'Do　you　think　it　would　be　unfriendly　of　me　if　I　said　I　was　busy？'　he

inquired　in　a　shy　and　timid　voice。

〃'Well；　really；'　answered　the　Miller；　'I　do　not　think　it　is　much　to　ask　of

you；　considering　that　I　am　going　to　give　you　my　wheelbarrow；　but　of

course　if　you　refuse　I　will　go　and　do　it　myself。'

〃'Oh！　on　no　account；'　cried　little　Hans　and　he　jumped　out　of　bed；　and

dressed　himself；　and　went　up　to　the　barn。

〃He　worked　there　all　day　long；　till　sunset；　and　at　sunset　the　Miller

came　to　see　how　he　was　getting　on。

〃'Have　you　mended　the　hole　in　the　roof　yet；　little　Hans？'　cried　the

Miller　in　a　cheery　voice。

〃'It　is　quite　mended；'　answered　little　Hans；　ing　down　the　ladder。

31

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

〃'Ah'！　said　the　Miller；　'there　is　no　work　so　delightful　as　the　work　one

does　for　others。'

〃'It　is　certainly　a　great　privilege　to　hear　you　talk；'　answered　little　Hans；

sitting　down；　and　wiping　his　forehead；　'a　very　great　privilege。　But　I　am

afraid　I　shall　never　have　such　beautiful　ideas　as　you　have。'

〃'Oh！　they　will　e　to　you；'　said　the　Miller；　'but　you　must　take　more