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 coming 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 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 compliment your coming 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 XXXXX , ` but it is my new lantern , and it would be a great loss to me if anything happened to it . ' ''
Hans Miller daylight evening fall night note-book storm third wheelbarrow