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第8章

快乐王子童话集(英文版)-第8章

小说: 快乐王子童话集(英文版) 字数: 每页4000字

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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。 
    〃There was the Miller with a large sack of flour on his back。 
    〃'Dear little Hans;' said the Miller; 'would you mind carrying this sack 
of flour for me to market?' 
    〃'Oh; I am so sorry;' said Hans; 'but I am really very busy to…day。 I 
have got all my creepers to nail up; and all my flowers to water; and all my 
grass to roll。' 
    〃'Well; really;' said the Miller; 'I think that; considering that I am going 
to give you my wheelbarrow; it is rather unfriendly of you to refuse。' 
    〃'Oh; don't say that;' cried little Hans; 'I wouldn't be unfriendly for the 
whole world'; and he ran in for his cap; and trudged off with the big sack 
on his shoulders。 
    〃It was a very hot day; and the road was terribly dusty; and before 
Hans had reached the sixth milestone he was so tired that he had to sit 
down and rest。 However; he went on bravely; and as last he reached the 
market。 After he had waited there some time; he sold the sack of flour 
for a very good price; and then he returned home at once; for he was afraid 
that if he stopped too late he might meet some robbers on the way。 
    〃'It has certainly been a hard day;' said little Hans to himself as he was 
going to bed; 'but I am glad I did not refuse the Miller; for he is my best 
friend; and; besides; he is going to give me his wheelbarrow。' 
    〃Early the next morning the Miller came down to get the money for 
his sack of flour; but little Hans was so tired that he was still in bed。 

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                             The Happy Prince and Other Tales 




     〃'Upon my word;' said the Miller; 'you are very lazy。              Really; 
considering that I am going to give you my wheelbarrow; I think you 
might work harder。 Idleness is a great sin; and I certainly don't like any 
of my friends to be idle or sluggish。 You must not mind my speaking 
quite plainly to you。 Of course I should not dream of doing so if I were 
not your friend。 But what is the good of friendship if one cannot say 
exactly what one means? Anybody can say charming things and try to 
please and to flatter; but a true friend always says unpleasant things; and 
does not mind giving pain。 Indeed; if he is a really true friend he prefers 
it; for he knows that then he is doing good。' 
     〃'I am very sorry;' said little Hans; rubbing his eyes and pulling off his 
night…cap; 'but I was so tired 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。 

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                              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 
pains。 At present you have only the practice of friendship; some day you 
will have the theory also。' 
     〃'Do you really think I shall?' asked little Hans。 
     〃'I have no doubt of it;' answered the Miller; 'but now that you have 
mended the roof; you had better go home and rest; for I want you to drive 
my sheep to the mountain to…morrow。' 
     〃Poor little Hans was afraid to say anything to this; and early the next 
morning the Miller brought his sheep round to the cottage; and Hans 
started off with them to the mountain。 It took him the whole day to get 
there and back; and when he returned he was so tired that he went off to 
sleep in his chair; and did not wake up till it was broad daylight。 
     〃'What a delightful time I shall have in my garden;' he said; and he 
went to work at once。 
     〃But somehow he was never able to look after his flowers at all; for his 
friend the Miller was always ing round and sending him off on long 
errands; or getting him to help at the mill。 Little Hans was very much 
distressed at times; as he was afraid his flowers would think he had 
forgotten them; but he consoled himself by the reflection that the Miller 
was his best friend。 'Besides;' he used to say; 'he is going 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 

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                             The Happy Prince and Other Tales 




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 

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