houlders。

〃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。

30

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