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

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