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FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE UGLY DUCKLING
by Hans Christian Andersen
IT was lovely summer weather in the country; and the golden
corn; the green oats; and the haystacks piled up in the meadows looked
beautiful。 The stork walking about on his long red legs chattered in
the Egyptian language; which he had learnt from his mother。 The
corn…fields and meadows were surrounded by large forests; in the midst
of which were deep pools。 It was; indeed; delightful to walk about
in the country。 In a sunny spot stood a pleasant old farm…house
close by a deep river; and from the house down to the water side
grew great burdock leaves; so high; that under the tallest of them a
little child could stand upright。 The spot was as wild as the centre
of a thick wood。 In this snug retreat sat a duck on her nest; watching
for her young brood to hatch; she was beginning to get tired of her
task; for the little ones were a long time coming out of their shells;
and she seldom had any visitors。 The other ducks liked much better
to swim about in the river than to climb the slippery banks; and sit
under a burdock leaf; to have a gossip with her。 At length one shell
cracked; and then another; and from each egg came a living creature
that lifted its head and cried; 〃Peep; peep。〃 〃Quack; quack;〃 said the
mother; and then they all quacked as well as they could; and looked
about them on every side at the large green leaves。 Their mother
allowed them to look as much as they liked; because green is good
for the eyes。 〃How large the world is;〃 said the young ducks; when
they found how much more room they now had than while they were inside
the egg…shell。 〃Do you imagine this is the whole world?〃 asked the
mother; 〃Wait till you have seen the garden; it stretches far beyond
that to the parson's field; but I have never ventured to such a
distance。 Are you all out?〃 she continued; rising; 〃No; I declare; the
largest egg lies there still。 I wonder how long this is to last; I
am quite tired of it;〃 and she seated herself again on the nest。
〃Well; how are you getting on?〃 asked an old duck; who paid her
a visit。
〃One egg is not hatched yet;〃 said the duck; 〃it will not break。
But just look at all the others; are they not the prettiest little
ducklings you ever saw? They are the image of their father; who is
so unkind; he never comes to see。〃
〃Let me see the egg that will not break;〃 said the duck; 〃I have
no doubt it is a turkey's egg。 I was persuaded to hatch some once; and
after all my care and trouble with the young ones; they were afraid of
the water。 I quacked and clucked; but all to no purpose。 I could not
get them to venture in。 Let me look at the egg。 Yes; that is a
turkey's egg; take my advice; leave it where it is and teach the other
children to swim。〃
〃I think I will sit on it a little while longer;〃 said the duck;
〃as I have sat so long already; a few days will be nothing。〃
〃Please yourself;〃 said the old duck; and she went away。
At last the large egg broke; and a young one crept forth crying;
〃Peep; peep。〃 It was very large and ugly。 The duck stared at it and
exclaimed; 〃It is very large and not at all like the others。 I
wonder if it really is a turkey。 We shall soon find it out; however
when we go to the water。 It must go in; if I have to push it myself。〃
On the next day the weather was delightful; and the sun shone
brightly on the green burdock leaves; so the mother duck took her
young brood down to the water; and jumped in with a splash。 〃Quack;
quack;〃 cried she; and one after another the little ducklings jumped
in。 The water closed over their heads; but they came up again in an
instant; and swam about quite prettily with their legs paddling
under them as easily as possible; and the ugly duckling was also in
the water swimming with them。
〃Oh;〃 said the mother; 〃that is not a turkey; how well he uses his
legs; and how upright he holds himself! He is my own child; and he
is not so very ugly after all if you look at him properly。 Quack;
quack! come with me now; I will take you into grand society; and
introduce you to the farmyard; but you must keep close to me or you
may be trodden upon; and; above all; beware of the cat。〃
When they reached the farmyard; there was a great disturbance; two
families were fighting for an eel's head; which; after all; was
carried off by the cat。 〃See; children; that is the way of the world;〃
said the mother duck; whetting her beak; for she would have liked
the eel's head herself。 〃Come; now; use your legs; and let me see
how well you can behave。 You must bow your heads prettily to that
old duck yonder; she is the highest born of them all; and has
Spanish blood; therefore; she is well off。 Don't you see she has a red
flag tied to her leg; which is something very grand; and a great honor
for a duck; it shows that every one is anxious not to lose her; as she
can be recognized both by man and beast。 Come; now; don't turn your
toes; a well…bred duckling spreads his feet wide apart; just like
his father and mother; in this way; now bend your neck; and say
'quack。'〃
The ducklings did as they were bid; but the other duck stared; and
said; 〃Look; here comes another brood; as if there were not enough
of us already! and what a queer looking object one of them is; we
don't want him here;〃 and then one flew out and bit him in the neck。
〃Let him alone;〃 said the mother; 〃he is not doing any harm。〃
〃Yes; but he is so big and ugly;〃 said the spiteful duck 〃and
therefore he must be turned out。〃
〃The others are very pretty children;〃 said the old duck; with the
rag on her leg; 〃all but that one; I wish his mother could improve him
a little。〃
〃That is impossible; your grace;〃 replied the mother; 〃he is not
pretty; but he has a very good disposition; and swims as well or
even better than the others。 I think he will grow up pretty; and
perhaps be smaller; he has remained too long in the egg; and therefore
his figure is not properly formed;〃 and then she stroked his neck
and smoothed the feathers; saying; 〃It is a drake; and therefore not
of so much consequence。 I think he will grow up strong; and able to
take care of himself。〃
〃The other ducklings are graceful enough;〃 said the old duck。 〃Now
make yourself at home; and if you can find an eel's head; you can
bring it to me。〃
And so they made themselves comfortable; but the poor duckling;
who had crept out of his shell last of all; and looked so ugly; was
bitten and pushed and made fun of; not only by the ducks; but by all
the poultry。 〃He is too big;〃 they all said; and the turkey cock;
who had been born into the world with spurs; and fancied himself
really an emperor; puffed himself out like a vessel in full sail;
and flew at the duckling; and became quite red in the head with
passion; so that the poor little thing did not know where to go; and
was quite miserable because he was so ugly and laughed at by the whole
farmyard