e　than　to　listen　to　all　the　wonderful

things　the　Miller　used　to　say　about　the　unselfishness　of　true　friendship。

〃So　little　Hans　worked　away　in　his　garden。　During　the　spring；　the

summer；　and　the　autumn　he　was　very　happy；　but　when　the　winter　came；

and　he　had　no　fruit　or　flowers　to　bring　to　the　market；　he　suffered　a　good

deal　from　cold　and　hunger；　and　often　had　to　go　to　bed　without　any　supper

but　a　few　dried　pears　or　some　hard　nuts。　In　the　winter；　also；　he　was

extremely　lonely；　as　the　Miller　never　came　to　see　him　then。

〃'There　is　no　good　in　my　going　to　see　little　Hans　as　long　as　the　snow

lasts；'　the　Miller　used　to　say　to　his　wife；　'for　when　people　are　in　trouble

they　should　be　left　alone；　and　not　be　bothered　by　visitors。　That　at　least　is

my　idea　about　friendship；　and　I　am　sure　I　am　right。　So　I　shall　wait　till　the

spring　es；　and　then　I　shall　pay　him　a　visit；　and　he　will　be　able　to　give

me　a　large　basket　of　primroses　and　that　will　make　him　so　happy。'

〃'You　are　certainly　very　thoughtful　about　others；'　answered　the　Wife；

as　she　sat　in　her　fortable　armchair　by　the　big　pinewood　fire；　'very

thoughtful　indeed。　It　is　quite　a　treat　to　hear　you　talk　about　friendship。　I

am　sure　the　clergyman　himself　could　not　say　such　beautiful　things　as　you

do；　though　he　does　live　in　a　three…storied　house；　and　wear　a　gold　ring　on

his　little　finger。'

〃'But　could　we　not