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 right, 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 either 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 Miller, "but it is my new lantern, and it would be a great loss to me if anything happened to it."

`"Well, never mind, I will do without it," cried little Hans, and he took down his great fur coat, and tied a muffler round his throat, and started off.

`What a dreadful storm it was! The night was so black that little Hans could hardly see, and the wind was so strong that he could scarcely stand. However, he was very courageous, and after he had been walking about three hours, he arrived at the Doctor's house, and knocked at the door. "`Who is there?" cried the Doctor, putting his head out of his bedroom window.

`"Little Hans, Doctor."

`"What do you want, little Hans?"

`"The Miller's son has fallen from a ladder, and has hurt himself and the Miller wants you to come at once."

`"All right! said the Doctor; and he ordered his horse, and his big boots, and his lantern, and came downstairs, and rode off in the direction of the Miller's house, little Hans trudging behind him.

`But the storm grew worse and worse, and the rain fell in torrents, and little Hans could riot see where he was going, or keep up with the horse. At last he lost his way, and wandered off on the moor, which was a very dangerous place, as it was full of deep holes, and there poor little Hans was drowned. His body was found the next day by some goatherds, floating in a great pool of water, and was brought back by them to the cottage.

`Everybody went to little Hans's funeral, as he was so popular, and the Miller was the chief mourner.

`"As I was his best friend," said the Miller, "it is only fair that I should have the best place;" so he walked at the head of the procession in a long black cloak, and every now and then he wiped his eyes with a big pocket-handkerchief.