“‘mydearfriend,mybesfriend,’criedlilehans,‘youarewelcomeoallheflowersinmygardeniwouldmuchsoonerhaveyourgoodopinionhanmysilverbuons,anyday;’andheranandpluckedallhispreyprimroses,andfilledhemiller’sbaske

“‘goodbye,lilehans,’saidhemiller,ashewenuphehillwihhepnkonhisshoulder,andhebigbaskeinhishand

“‘goodbye,’saidlilehans,andhebeganodigawayquiemerrily,hewassopleasedabouhewheelbarrow

“henexdayhewasnailingupsomehoneysuckleagainsheporch,whenheheardhemiller’svoicecallingohimfromheroadsohejumpedoffhedder,andrandownhegarden,andlookedoverhewall

“herewashemillerwihargesackofflouronhisback

“‘dearlilehans,’saidhemiller,‘wouldyoumindcarryinghissackofflourformeomarke?’

“‘oh,iamsosorry,’saidhans,‘buiamreallyverybusyodayihavegoallmycreepersonailup,andallmyflowersowaer,andallmygrassoroll’

“‘well,really,’saidhemiller,‘ihinkha,consideringhaiamgoingogiveyoumywheelbarrow,iisraherunfriendlyofyouorefuse’

“‘oh,don’sayha,’criedlilehans,‘iwouldn’beunfriendlyforhewholeworld;’andheraninforhiscap,andrudgedoffwihhebigsackonhisshoulders

“iwasaveryhoday,andheroadwaserriblydusy,andbeforehanshadreachedhesixhmilesonehewassoiredhahehadosidownandreshowever,hewenonbravely,andasshereachedhemarkeaferhehadwaiedheresomeime,hesoldhesackofflourforaverygoodprice,andhenhereurnedhomeaonce,forhewasafraidhaifhesoppedooehemighmeesomerobbersonheway

“‘ihascerainlybeenahardday,’saidlilehansohimselfashewasgoingobed,‘buiamgdididnorefusehemiller,forheismybesfriend,and,besides,heisgoingogivemehiswheelbarrow’

“earlyhenexmorninghemillercamedownogehemoneyforhissackofflour,bulilehanswassoiredhahewassillinbed

“‘uponmyword,’saidhemiller,‘youareveryzyreally,consideringhaiamgoingogiveyoumywheelbarrow,ihinkyoumighworkharderidlenessisagreasin,andicerainlydon’likeanyofmyfriendsobeidleorsluggishyoumusnomindmyspeakingquiepinlyoyouofcourseishouldnodreamofdoingsoifiwerenoyourfriendbuwhaishegoodoffriendshipifoneca

osayexaclywhaonemeans?anybodycansaycharminghingsandryopleaseandofer,buaruefriendalwayssaysunpleasanhings,anddoesnomindgivingpainindeed,ifheisareallyruefriendheprefersi,forheknowshahenheisdoinggood’

“‘iamverysorry,’saidlilehans,rubbinghiseyesandpullingoffhisnighcap,‘buiwassoiredhaihoughiwouldlieinbedforalileime,andlisenohebirdssingingdoyouknowhaialwaysworkbeeraferhearinghebirdssing?’

“‘well,iamgdofha,’saidhemiller,cppinglilehansonheback,‘foriwanyouocomeupohemillassoonasyouaredressed,andmendmybarnroofforme’

“poorlilehanswasveryanxiousogoandworkinhisgarden,forhisflowershadnobeenwaeredforwodays,buhedidnolikeorefusehemiller,ashewassuchagoodfriendohim

“‘doyouhinkiwouldbeunfriendlyofmeifisaidiwasbusy?’heinquiredinashyandimidvoice

“‘well,really,’answeredhemiller,‘idonohinkiismuchoaskofyou,consideringhaiamgoingogiveyoumywheelbarrow;buofcourseifyourefuseiwillgoanddoimyself’

“‘oh!onnoaccoun,’criedlilehansandhejumpedouofbed,anddressedhimself,andwenupohebarn

“heworkedherealldaylong,illsunse,andasunsehemillercameoseehowhewasgeingon

“‘haveyoumendedheholeinheroofye,lilehans?’criedhemillerinacheeryvoice