The Miller of the Dee

by James Baldwin

　　

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Once upon a time there lived on the banks of the River Dee a miller,who was the hap-pi-est man in England. He was always busy from morningtill night, and he was always singing as merrily as any lark. He wasso cheerful that he made everybody else cheerful; and people all overthe land liked to talk about his pleasant ways. At last the king heardabout him."I will go down and talk with this won-der-ful miller," he said."Perhaps he can tell me how to be happy."As soon as he stepped inside of the mill, he heard the millersinging:-- "I envy no-body--no, not I!-- For I am as happy as I can be; And nobody envies me." "You're wrong, my friend," said the king. "You're wrong as wrong canbe. I envy you; and I would gladly change places with you, if I couldonly be as light-hearted as you are."The miller smiled, and bowed to the king."I am sure I could not think of changing places with you, sir," hesaid."Now tell me," said the king, "what makes you so cheerful and gladhere in your dusty mill, while I, who am king, am sad and in troubleevery day."The miller smiled again, and said, "I do not know why you are sad, butI can eas-i-ly tell why I am glad. I earn my own bread; I love my wifeand my children; I love my friends, and they love me; and I owe not apenny to any man. Why should I not be happy? For here is the RiverDee, and every day it turns my mill; and the mill grinds the corn thatfeeds my wife, my babes, and me.""Say no more," said the king. "Stay where you are, and be happy still.But I envy you. Your dusty cap is worth more than my golden crown.Your mill does more for you than my kingdom can do for me. If therewere more such men as you, what a good place this world would be!Good-by, my friend!"The king turned about, and walked sadly away; and the miller went backto his work singing:-- "Oh, I'm as happy as happy can be, For I live by the side of the River Dee!"

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