In all the country-side there was no garden so lovely as his. He lived in a tiny cottage all by himself, and every day he worked in his garden. 'No,' answered the Linnet, 'I don't think he was distinguished at all, except for his kind heart, and his funny round good-humoured face. 'Was he very distinguished?' asked the Water-rat. 'Once upon a time,' said the Linnet, 'there was an honest little fellow named Hans.' 'It is applicable to you,' answered the Linnet and he flew down, and alighting upon the bank, he told the story of The Devoted Friend. If so, I will listen to it, for I am extremely fond of fiction.' 'Is the story about me?' asked the Water-rat. 'Let me tell you a story on the subject,' said the Linnet. 'I don't understand you,' answered the Water-rat. 'And what would you do in return?' said the little bird, swinging upon a silver spray, and flapping his tiny wings. 'I should expect my devoted friend to be devoted to me, of course.' 'What a silly question!' cried the Water-rat. 'Yes, that is just what I want to know,' said the Duck, and she swam away to the end of the pond, and stood upon her head, in order to give her children a good example. 'And what, pray, is your idea of the duties of a devoted friend?' asked a Green Linnet, who was sitting in a willow-tree hard by, and had overheard the conversation. Indeed, I know of nothing in the world that is either nobler or rarer than a devoted friendship.'

Love is all very well in its way, but friendship is much higher. In fact, I have never been married, and I never intend to be. 'Ah! I know nothing about the feelings of parents,' said the Water-rat 'I am not a family man.

'Nothing of the kind,' answered the Duck, 'every one must make a beginning, and parents cannot be too patient.' 'What disobedient children!' cried the old Water-rat 'they really deserve to be drowned.' They were so young that they did not know what an advantage it is to be in society at all. But the little ducks paid no attention to her. 'You will never be in the best society unless you can stand on your heads,' she kept saying to them and every now and then she showed them how it was done.

The little ducks were swimming about in the pond, looking just like a lot of yellow canaries, and their mother, who was pure white with real red legs, was trying to teach them how to stand on their heads in the water. He had bright beady eyes and stiff grey whiskers, and his tail was like a long bit of black india-rubber. One morning the old Water-rat put his head out of his hole. Note: Oscar Wilde intended this story to be read to children

The Devoted Friend by Oscar Wilde