夜莺与玫瑰-第19部分

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　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　pliment　your　ing　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　his　warm　scarlet　cap，　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　e　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　not　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’　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。
“　‘Little　Hans　is　certainly　a　great　loss　to　every　one，’　said　the　Blacksmith，　when　the　funeral　was　over，　and　they　were　all　seated　fortably　in　the　inn，　drinking　spiced　wine　and　eating　sweet　cakes。
“　‘A　great　loss　to　me　at　any　rate，’　answered　the　Miller；　‘why，　I　had　as　good　as　given　him　my　wheelbarrow，　and　now　I　really　don’t　know　what　to　do　with　it。　It　is　very　much　in　my　way　at　home，　and　it　is　in　such　bad　repair　that　I　could　not　get　anything　for　it　if　I　sold　it。　I　will　certainly　take　care　not　to　give　away　anything　again。　One　always　suffers　for　being　generous。’　”
“Well？”　said　the　Water…rat，　after　a　long　pause。
“Well，　that　is　the　end，”　said　the　Lin。
“But　what　became　of　the　Miller？”　asked　the　Water…rat。
“Oh！　I　really　don’t　know，”　replied　the　Lin；　“and　I　am　sure　that　I　don’t　care。”
“It　is　quite　evident　then　that　you　have　no　sympathy　in　your　nature，”　said　the　Water…rat。
“I　am　afraid　you　don’t　quite　see　the　moral　of　the　story，”　remarked　the　Lin。
“The　what？”　screamed　the　Water…rat。
“The　moral。”
“Do　you　mean　to　say　that　the　story　has　a　moral？”
“Certainly，”　said　the　Lin。
“Well，　really，”　said　the　Water…rat，　in　a　very　angry　manner，　“I　think　you　should　have　told　me　that　before　you　began。　If　you　had　done　so，　I　certainly　would　not　have　listened　to　you；　in　fact，　I　should　have　said　‘Pooh，’　like　the　critic。　However，　I　can　say　it　now；”　so　he　shouted　out　“Pooh”　at　the　top　of　his　voice，　gave　a　whisk　with　his　tail，　and　went　back　into　his　hole。
“And　how　do　you　like　the　Water…rat？”　asked　the　Duck，　who　came　paddling　up　some　minutes　afterwards。　“He　has　a　great　many　good　points，　but　for　my　own　part　I　have　a　mother’s　feelings，　and　I　can　never　look　at　a　confirmed　bachelor　without　the　tears　ing　into　my　eyes。”
“I　am　rather　afraid　that　I　have　annoyed　him，”　answered　the　Lin。　“The　fact　is，　that　I　told　him　a　story　with　a　moral。”
“Ah！　that　is　always　a　very　dangerous　thing　to　do，”　said　the　Duck。
And　I　quite　agree　with　her。
★、The　Remarkable　RocketThe　King’s　son　was　going　to　be　married，　so　there　were　general　rejoicings。　He　had　waited　a　whole　year　for　his　bride，　and　at　last　she　had　arrived。　She　was　a　Russian　Princess，　and　had　driven　all　the　way　from　Finland　in　a　sledge　drawn　by　six　reindeer。　The　sledge　was　shaped　like　a　great　golden　swan，　and　between　the　swan’s　wings　lay　the　little　Princess　herself。　Her　long　ermine　cloak　reached　right　down　to　her　feet，　on　her　head　was　a　tiny　cap　of　silver　tissue，　and　she　was　as　pale　as　the　Snow　Palace　in　which　she　had　always　lived。　So　pale　was　she　that　as　she　drove　through　the　streets　all　the　people　wondered。　“She　is　like　a　white　rose！”　they　cried，　and　they　threw　down　flowers　on　her　from　the　balconies。
At　the　gate　of　the　Castle　the　Prince　was　waiting　to　receive　her。　He　had　dreamy　violet　eyes，　and　his　hair　was　like　fine　gold。　When　he　saw　her　he　sank　upon　one　knee，　and　kissed　her　hand。
“Your　picture　was　beautiful，”　he　murmured，　“but　you　are　more　beautiful　than　your　picture；”　and　the　little　Princess　blushed。
“She　was　like　a　white　rose　before，”　said　a　young　Page　to　his　neighbour，　“but　she　is　like　a　red　rose　now；”　and　the　whole　Court　was　delighted。
For　the　next　three　days　everybody　went　about　saying，　“White　rose，　Red　rose，　Red　rose，　White　rose；”　and　the　King　gave　orders　that　the　Page’s　salary　was　to　be　doubled。　As　he　received　no　salary　at　all　this　was　not　of　much　use　to　him，　but　it　was　considered　a　great　honour，　and　was　duly　published　in　the　Court　Gazette。
When　the　three　days　were　over　the　marriage　was　celebrated。　It　was　a　magnificent　ceremony，　and　the　bride　and　bridegroom　walked　hand　in　hand　under　a　canopy　of　purple　velvet　embroidered　with　little　pearls。　Then　there　was　a　State　Banquet，　which　lasted　for　five　hours。　The　Prince　and　Princess　sat　at　the　top　of　the　Great　Hall　and　drank　out　of　a　cup　of　clear　crystal。　Only　true　lovers　could　drink　out　of　this　cup，　for　if　false　lips　touched　it，　it　grew　grey　and　dull　and　cloudy。
“It’s　quite　clear　that　they　love　each　other，”　said　the　little　Page，　“as　clear　as　crystal！”　and　the　King　doubled　his　salary　a　second　time。　“What　an　honour！”　cried　all　the　courtiers。
After　the　banquet　there　was　to　be　a　Ball。　The　bride　and　bridegroom　were　to　dance　the　Rose…dance　together，　and　the　King　had　promised　to　play　the　flute。　He　played　very　badly，　but　no　one　had　ever　dared　to　tell　him　so，　because　he　was　the　King。　Indeed，　he　knew　only　two　airs，　and　was　never　quite　certain　which　one　he　was　playing；　but　it　made　no　matter，　for，　whatever　he　did，　everybody　cried　out，　“Charming！　charming！”
The　last　item　on　the　programme　was　a　grand　display　of　fireworks，　to　be　let　off　exactly　at　midnight。　The　little　Princess　had　never　seen　a　firework　in　her　life，　so　the　King　had　given　orders　that　the　Royal　Pyrotechnist　should　be　in　attendance　on　the　day　of　her　marriage。
“What　are　fireworks　like？”　she　had　asked　the　Prince，　one　morning，　as　she　was　walking　on　the　terrace。
“They　are　like　the　Aurora　Borealis，”　said　the　King，　who　always　answered　questions　that　were　addressed　to　other　people，　“only　much　more　natural。　I　prefer　them　to　stars　myself，　as　you　always　know　when　they　are　going　to　appear，　and　they　are　as　delightful　as　my　own　flute…playing。　You　must　certainly　see　them。”
So　at　the　end　of　the　King’s　garden　a　great　stand　had　been　set　up，　and　as　soon　as　the　Royal　Pyrotechnist　had　put　everything　in　its　proper　place，　the　fireworks　began　to　talk　to　each　other。
“The　world　is　certainly　very　beautiful，”　cried　a　little　Squib。　“Just　look　at　those　yellow　tulips。　Why！　if　they　were　real　crackers　they　could　not　be　lovelier。　I　am　very　glad　I　have　travelled。　Travel　improves　the　mind　wonderfully，　and　does　away　with　all　one’s　prejudices。”
“The　King’s　garden　is　not　the　world，　you　foolish　squib，”　said　a　big　Roman　Candle；　“the　world　is　an　enormous　place，　and　it　would　take　you