第5部分(第6/7 页)

s　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

28

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

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