In the race to scale with AI, you need data infrastructure that can match your pace. EverPierre's data storage platform brings all your data into one hub. No silos, no scrambling, just instant access to tame your data chaos. And with EverPierre's storage as a service subscription, your storage and security upgrade automatically with zero downtime, your infrastructure stays current so your business never slows down. Visit Visit EverPeerData.com to learn more today.

With EverPeer, you're not just in the race.

You're built to win it. Welcome to Snewscast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us on snewscast.com and follow us on Instagram at snewscast where you'll find behind the scenes content. If you enjoy our show, please write a review on the podcast app. Also, share us with a friend.

This episode is brought to you by our Patreon supporters and by a flock of woolly sheep. Tonight we'll read the story, the devoted friend, written by Oscar Wilde, published in 1910. Wild was an Irish poet and playwright. He is remembered for his epigrams and plays, and his novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. In this fable, told by a Lynette, a songbird in the Finch family, to teach a rat some life skills. Hans is an innocent gardener and the devoted friend of a wealthy but manipulative miller. In this story, Wildhooks fun at a society where charity is less about love and more about ensuring that the wealthy benefit.

Let's get cozy.

Close your eyes.

Relax your body into the softness of your bed.

Now take a few deep breaths. One morning, the old water rat put his head out of his hole. He had bright, beady eyes and stiff grey whiskers, and his tail was like a long bit of black India rubber. 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. 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. But the little ducks paid no attention to her. They were so young that they did not know what an advantage it is to be in society at all. What disobedient children cried the old water rat? They really deserved to be drowned. Nothing of the kind. Answered the duck. Everyone must make a beginning, and parents cannot be too patient. Eh, I know nothing about the feelings of parents. Said the water rat. I'm not a family man. In fact, I have never been married, and I never intend to be. Love is all very well in its way, but friendship is much higher. Indeed, I know of nothing in the world that is either nobler or rarer than a devoted friendship. And what prey is your idea of the duties of a devoted friend? Asked a green limit who was sitting in a willow tree hard by and had overheard the conversation. 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. What a silly question! Cry the water rat. I should expect my devoted friend to be devoted to me, of course. And what would you do in return?" Said the little bird, swinging upon a silver spray, and flapping his tiny wings. I don't understand you answered the water rat. Let me tell you a story on the subject, said the Lynette. Is the story about me? Ask the the water out. If so, I'll listen to it, prime extremely fond of fiction.

It is applicable to you. Answered the Lynette, and he flew down, and a lighting upon the bank. He told the story of the devoted friend. One upon a time, said the Lynette. There was an honest little fellow named Hans. Was he very distinguished? Asked the water rat? No. Answered the Lynette. I don't think he was distinguished at all, except for his kind heart and his funny round good-humored face. He lived in a tiny cottage all by himself, and every day he worked in his garden. In all the countryside there was no garden so lovely as his. Sweet William grew there and gilly flowers and shepherds purses and fair maids of France. There were Damascus roses and yellow lilies, lilac crocuses, and gold purple violets and white, Columbine and Lady Smock, Marjoram and Wild Basil, the cow slip, and the flower deluce,

the daffodil, and the clove pink bloomed or blossomed in their proper order as the months went by. one flower, taking another flower's place,

so that there were always beautiful things to look at, and pleasant odors to smell. Little Hans had a great many friends, but the most devoted friend of all was Big, Hugh, the Miller. Indeed, so devoted was the rich Miller to Little Hans that he would never go by his garden without leaning over the wall and plucking a large nose-gay or or a handful of sweet herbs, or filling his pockets with plums and cherries, if it was the fruit season. Real friends should have everything in common, the Miller used to say, and little haunts nodded and smiled and felt very proud of having a friend with such noble ideas. Sometimes indeed, the neighbors thought it strange that the rich Miller never cave Little Hans anything in return, though he had a hundred sacks of flower stored away in his mill and six cows and a large flock of woolly sheep. But Hans never troubled his head about these things and nothing gave him greater pleasure then to listen to all the wonderful things the miller used to say about the unselfishness of true friendship. So little Hans worked away in his garden during the spring, the summer, and the autumn, he was very happy. But when the winter came, and he had no fruit or flowers to bring to the market, he suffered a good deal from cold and hunger. and often had to go to bed without any suffer, but a few dried pears or some hard nuts. In the winter also, he was extremely lonely as the miller never came to see him then. There is no good in my going to see little Hans as long as the snow lasts. The Miller used to say to his wife, for when people are in trouble, they should be left alone and not be bothered by visitors. That at least is my idea about friendship, and I'm sure I'm right. So I shall wait till the spring comes, and then I shall pay him a visit, and he will be able to give me a large basket of primrose's, and that will make him so happy. You are extremely thoughtful about others, answered the wife, as she sat in her comfortable armchair by the big Pinewood fire, very thoughtful indeed. It is quite a treat to hear you talk about friendship.

I am sure the clergyman himself could not say such beautiful things as you do, though he does live in a three-storyed house, and wear a gold ring on his little finger. But could we not ask little Hans up here?" said the miller's youngest son. If poor Hans is in trouble, I'll give him half my porridge and show him my white rabbits. What a silly boy you are, cried the miller. I really don't know what is the use of sending you to school. You seem not to learn anything. Why, if little Hans came up here and saw our warm fire and our good supper and our cask of red wine, he might get envious an envious most terrible thing, and would spoil anybody's nature. I certainly will not allow Han's nature to be spoiled. I am his best friend, and I will always watch over him, and see that he is not led into any temptations. Besides, if Hans came here, he might ask me to let him have some flower on credit, and that I could not do. Flowers one thing, and friendship is another, and they should not be confused. Why? The words are spelt differently, and mean quite different things. Everybody can see that. How well you talk," said the Miller's wife, pouring herself out a large glass of warm ale. Really, I feel quite drowsy. It is just like being in church. Lots of people act well, answered the Miller, 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. And he looked sternly across the table at his little son, who felt so ashamed of himself that he hung down his head and grew quite scarlet and began to cry into his tea. However, he was so young that you must excuse him. He's at the end of the story. Ask the water rat? Certainly not. Answered the limit. That is the beginning. Then are you quite behind the age? Said the water rat. Every good storyteller nowadays starts with the end and then goes on to the beginning, and concludes with the middle. That is the new method. I heard all about it the other day, from a critic who was walking round the pond with a young man. He spoke of the matter at great length, and I am sure he must have been right for he had blue spectacles in a bald head, and whenever the young man made any remark, he always answered, phew. But pray, go on with your story. I like the Miller immensely. I have all kinds of beautiful sentiments myself, so there is great sympathy between us. Well, said the Lynette, hopping now on one leg and now on the other. As soon as the winter was over and the primrose's began to open their pale yellow stars,

the miller said to his wife that he would go down and see little haunts. Why, what a good heart you have.

Cryed his wife.

You're always thinking of others.

And... Why, what a good heart you have! Cryed his wife, you're always thinking of others, and mind you take the big basket with you for the flowers. So, the miller tied the sails of the wind mill together with a strong iron chain, and went down the hill with the basket on his arm. Good morning, little Hans, said the miller. Good morning, said Hans, leaning on his spade and smiling from ear to ear. And how have you been all the winter?" said the Miller. Well, really, Cretan's, it's very good of you to ask, very good indeed. I'm afraid I had a rather hard time of it. But now the spring has come, and I'm quite happy, and all my flowers are doing well." We often talked of you during the winter haunts, said the Miller, and wondered how you were getting on. ThatThat was kind of you,' said Hans. I was half afraid. You had forgotten me.' "'Hans, I'm surprised at you,' said the Miller. "'Friendship never forgets. That is the wonderful thing about it. But I'm afraid you don't understand the poetry of life. A lovely your primrose is are looking by the buy. They are certainly very lovely," said Hans. And it is most lucky for me that I have so many. I'm going to bring them to the market and sell them to the Bergo Master's daughter and buy back my wheelbarrow with the money. Buy back your wheelbarrow? You don't mean to say you have sold it. What a very stupid thing to do. Well, the fact is, said Hans, that I was obliged to. You see, the winter was a very bad time for me, and I really had no money at all to buy bread with. So first I sold the silver buttons off my Sunday coat, and then I sold my silver chain, and then I sold my big pipe, and at last I sold my wheelbarrow, but I'm going to buy them all back again now. Hans said the Miller. I'll give you my will-barrow. It's not in very good repair, indeed. One side is gone, and there's something wrong with the will-spokes. But in spite of that, I'll give it to you. I know it's very generous of me, and a great many people would think me extremely foolish for parting with it. But I am not like the rest of the world. I think the generosity is the essence of friendship, and besides, I've got a new world where I self. so you may set your mind at ease. I will give you my will-barrow." Well, really, that is generous of you," said Little Hans, and his funny round face glowed all over with pleasure. I can easily put it in repair as I have a plank of wood in the house. A plank of wood. Set the miller. Why? That is just what I want for the roof of my barn. There's a very large hole in it. and the corn will all get damp if I don't stop it up. How lucky you mentioned it. It's quite remarkable how one good action always breeds another. I've given you my wheelbarrow, and now you are going to give me your plank. Of course, the wheelbarrow is worth far more than the plank, but true friendship never notices things like that. Pray get it at once, and I will set to work at my barn this very day. Certainly cried little haunts and he ran into the shed and dragged out the plank. It's not a very big plank. Said the Miller, looking at it. I'm afraid that after I have mended my barn roof, there won't be any left for you to mend the wheelbarrow with.

But of course that is not my fault. And now, as I've given you my wheelbarrow, I'm sure you would like to give me some flowers in return. Here's the basket. And mind you, fill it quite full.

Quite full.

Set little Hans rather. the basket, and mind you, fill it quite full. Quite full, said Little Hans, rather sorrowfully, for it was really a very big basket, and he knew that if he filled it, he would have no flowers left for the market and he was very anxious to get his silver buttons back. Well, really, answered the miller, as I have given you my will-barrel, I don't think that it's much to ask you for a few flowers. I may be wrong, but I should have thought that friendship, true friendship, was quite free from selfishness of any kind. My dear friend, my best friend, cried little Hans, you're welcome to all the flowers in my garden. I would much sooner have your good opinion than my silver buttons any day. And he ran and plucked all his pretty primroses and filled the miller's basket. Goodbye, little Hans Hans, said the miller, as he went up the hill with the plank on his shoulder, and the big basket in his hand. Goodby, said little Hans, and he began to dig away quite merrily. He was so pleased about the wheelbarrow. The next day he was nailing up some honey-suckle against the porch when he heard the Miller's voice calling to him from the road. So he jumped off the ladder and ran down the garden and looked over the wall. There was the miller with a large sack of flour on his back. Dear little Hans, set the miller, would you mind carrying this sack of flower for me to the market? Oh, I'm so sorry, said Hans, but I'm really very busy today. I've got all my creepers to nail up, all my flowers to water, and all my grass to roll.

Well, really, said the Miller, I think that, considering that I'm going to give you my will-barrow, it's rather unfriendly of you to refuse. Oh, don't say that! that cried little hunts. I wouldn't be unfriendly for the whole world. And he ran in for his cap and trudged off with the big sack on his shoulders. It was a very hot day and the road was was terribly dusty, and before Hans had reached the six milestone, he was so tired that he had to sit down and rest. However, he went on bravely, and as last he reached the market. After he had waited there sometime, he sold the sack of flour for a very good price, and then he returned home at once. he was afraid that if he stopped too late, he might meet some robbers on the way. It has certainly been a hard day, said Little Hans, to himself as he was going to bed. But I'm glad I did not refuse the miller, for he is my best friend, and besides, he's going to give me his will, Barrow. Early the next morning, the miller came down to get the money for his sack of flour. But little Hans was so tired, and he was still in bed. Upon my word, set the miller, you're very lazy, really considering that I'm going to give you my wheelbarrow. I think you might work harder. Idleness is a great sin, and I certainly don't like any of my friends to be idle or sluggish. You must not mind me speaking quite plainly to you. Of course, I should not dream of doing so, if I were not your friend, but what is the good of friendship, if one cannot say exactly what one means. Anybody can say charming things and try to please and flatter, but a true friend always says unpleasant things and does not mind giving pain. Indeed, if he is really truly a friend, he prefers it, free knows that then he is doing good. I'm so sorry," said Little Hans, rubbing his eyes and pulling off his nightcap. I was so tired that I thought I would lie in bed for a little time and listen to the bird singing. Do you know that I always work better after hearing the bird sing? Well, I'm glad of that," said the miller, clapping little honds on the back. For I want you to come up to the mill as soon as you're dressed and mend my barn roof for me. Poor little Hans was very anxious to go and work in his garden. For his flowers had not been watered for two days, but he did not like to refuse the miller, as he was such a good friend. Do you think it would be unfriendly of me if I said I was busy? He inquired in a shy and timid voice. Well, really? Answered the Miller. I do not think it's much to ask of you, considering that I'm going to give you my wheel barrel. But of course, if you refuse, I will go and do it myself. Oh, oh no, on no account. cried little Hans, and he jumped out of bed and dressed himself and went up to the barn. He worked there all day long till sunset, and at sunset the miller came to see how he was getting on. Have you mended the hole in the roof yet, little haunts? Cried the miller in a cheery voice? It's quite mended, answered little haunts, coming down the ladder. Ah, said the Miller, there is no work so delightful as the work one does for others. It is certainly a good privilege to hear you talk. little hauen sitting down and wiping his forehead. A very great privilege, but I'm afraid I shall never have such beautiful ideas as you do. "'Oh, they'll come to you,' said the Miller. "'But you must take more pains. At present you have only the practice of friendship. Someday you will have the theory also. Do you really think I shall? Asked little Hans. I have no doubt of it. Answered the Miller. But now that you have mended the roof, you had better go home and rest. Now, it happened that one evening little haunts was sitting by his fire side when a loud rap came at the door. It was a very wild night, And the wind was blowing and roaring round the house so terribly that at first he thought it was merely the storm, but a second wrap came, and then a third louder than any of the others. It must be some poor traveler said little Hans to himself, and he ran to the door. There stood the Miller with a lantern in one hand and a big stick in the other. Dear little Hans, cried the miller, I'm in great trouble. My little boy has fallen off a ladder and hurt himself, and I'm going for the doctor. he lives so far away and it is such a bad night, that it's just occurred to me that it would be much better if you went instead. You know I'm going to give you my will, Barrel, so it's only fair that you should do something for me in return. Certainly, cried little Hans. I take it quite as a compliment you 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'm afraid I might fall into the ditch. I'm very sorry, answered the miller, but it's my new lantern, and it would be a great loss if anything happened to it. Well, never mind, I'll do without, cried little Hans, and he took down his great fur coat, and his warm scarlet cap, and tied a muffler around his throat, and started off what a dreadful storm it was. The night was so black that little

hens could hardly see and the wind was so strong that he could hardly stand. However, He was very courageous.

...