` 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 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 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 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 comfortably in the inn , drinking spiced wine and eating sweet cakes . '' '
A great loss to me at any rate , ' XXXXX the Miller ; ` why , I had as good as given him my wheelbarrow , and now I really do n't know what to do with it .
am answered arrived drinking hurt said stand tied wants wiped