onemorningheoldwaerrapuhisheadouofhisholehehadbrighbeadyeyesandsiffgreywhiskersandhisailwaslikealongbiofbckindiarubberhelileduckswereswimmingabouinhepond,lookingjuslikealoofyellowcanaries,andheirmoher,whowaspurewhiewihrealredlegs,wasryingoeachhemhowosandonheirheadsinhewaer

“youwillneverbeinhebessocieyunlessyoucansandonyourheads,”shekepsayingohem;andeverynowandhensheshowedhemhowiwasdonebuhelileduckspaidnoaenionoherheyweresoyounghaheydidnoknowwhaanadvanageiisobeinsocieyaall

“whadisobedienchildren!”criedheoldwaerra;“heyreallydeserveobedrowned”

“nohingofhekind,”answeredheduck,“everyonemusmakeabegi

ing,andparensca

obeoopaien”

“ah!iknownohingabouhefeelingsofparens,”saidhewaerra;“iamnoafamilymaninfac,ihaveneverbeenmarried,andineverinendobeloveisallverywellinisway,bufriendshipismuchhigherindeed,iknowofnohinginheworldhaiseihernoblerorrarerhanadevoedfriendship”

“andwha,pray,isyourideaofheduiesofadevoedfriend?”askedagreenli

e,whowassiinginawillowreehardby,andhadoverheardheconversaion

“yes,haisjuswhaiwanoknow,”saidheduck;andsheswamawayoheendofhepond,andsooduponherhead,inorderogiveherchildrenagoodexample

“whaasillyquesion!”criedhewaerra“ishouldexpecmydevoedfriendobedevoedome,ofcourse”

“andwhawouldyoudoinreurn?”saidhelilebird,swinginguponasilverspray,andfppinghisinywings

“idon’undersandyou,”answeredhewaerra

“lemeellyouasoryonhesubjec,”saidheli

e

“ishesoryaboume?”askedhewaerra“ifso,iwilllisenoi,foriamexremelyfondofficion”

“iisapplicableoyou,”answeredheli

e;andheflewdown,andalighinguponhebank,heoldhesoryofhedevoedfriend

“onceuponaime,”saidheli

e,“herewasanhoneslilefellownamedhans”

“washeverydisinguished?”askedhewaerra

“no,”answeredheli

e,“idon’hinkhewasdisinguishedaall,excepforhiskindhear,andhisfu

yroundgoodhumouredfacehelivedinainycoageallbyhimself,andeverydayheworkedinhisgardeninallhecounrysideherewasnogardensolovelyashissweewilliamgrewhere,andgillyflowers,andshepherds’purses,andfairmaidsoffrancehereweredamaskroses,andyellowroses,liccrocuses,andgold,purpleviolesandwhiecolumbineanddysmock,marjoramandwildbasil,hecowslipandheflowerdeluce,hedaffodilandheclovepinkbloomedorblossomedinheirproperorderashemonhswenby,oneflowerakinganoherflower‘spce,sohaherewerealwaysbeauifulhingsolooka,andpleasanodoursosmell

“lilehanshadagreamanyfriends,buhemosdevoedfriendofallwasbighughhemillerindeed,sodevoedwasherichmillerolilehans,habewouldnevergobyhisgardenwihouleaningoverhewallandpluckingargenosegay,orahandfulofsweeherbs,orfillinghispockeswihplumsandcherriesifiwashefruiseason

“‘realfriendsshouldhaveeveryhingincommon,’hemillerusedosay,andlilehansnoddedandsmiled,andfelveryproudofhavingafriendwihsuchnobleideas

“someimes,indeed,heneighbourshoughisrangehaherichmillernevergavelilehansanyhinginreurn,houghhehadahundredsacksoffloursoredawayinhismill,andsixmilchcows,andargeflockofwoollysheep;buhansneverroubledhisheadabouhesehings,andnohinggavehimgreaerpleasurehanolisenoallhewonderfulhingshemillerusedosayabouheunselfishnessofruefriendship