Little Hans spends most of his time gardening and makes a living from sales of his beautiful flowers. Little Hans always treats his neighbours well and even allows neighbouring rich Miller to pick flowers from his garden. But the Miller rarely invites Hans into his house or responds in kind. The Miller instead develops has his own philosophy of friendship: 'Lots of people act well but very few people talk well, which shows that talking is much the more difficult thing of the two, and much the finer thing also'.