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