` Real friends should have everything in common , ' the Miller used to say , and little Hans nodded and smiled , and felt very proud of having a friend with such noble ideas . `` Sometimes , indeed , the neighbours thought it strange that the rich Miller never gave little Hans anything in return , though he had a hundred sacks of flour stored away in his mill , and six milch cows , and a large flock of woolly sheep ; but Hans never troubled his head about these things , and nothing gave him greater pleasure 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 comes , 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 comfortable 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 ask little Hans up here ? ' said the Miller 's youngest son . ` If poor Hans is in trouble I will give him half my porridge , and show him my white rabbits . ' '' ` What a silly boy you are ' ! cried the Miller ; ' I really do n't know what is the use of sending you to school . You seem not to learn anything . Why , if little Hans came up here , and saw our warm fire , and our good supper , and our great cask of red wine , he might get envious , and envy is a most terrible thing , and would spoil anybody 's nature . I certainly will not allow Hans ' nature to be spoiled . I am his best friend , and I will always watch over him , and see that he is not led into any temptations .
Besides , if XXXXX came here , he might ask me to let him have some flour on credit , and that I could not do .
Hans Miller autumn fire left primroses right snow summer unselfishness