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〃I believe I must go out into the world again；〃 said the duckling。
〃Yes； do；〃 said the hen。 So the duckling left the cottage； and
soon found water on which it could swim and dive； but was avoided by
all other animals； because of its ugly appearance。 Autumn came； and
the leaves in the forest turned to orange and gold。 then； as winter
approached； the wind caught them as they fell and whirled them in
the cold air。 The clouds； heavy with hail and snow…flakes； hung low in
the sky； and the raven stood on the ferns crying； 〃Croak； croak。〃 It
made one shiver with cold to look at him。 All this was very sad for
the poor little duckling。 One evening； just as the sun set amid
radiant clouds； there came a large flock of beautiful birds out of the
bushes。 The duckling had never seen any like them before。 They were
swans； and they curved their graceful necks； while their soft
plumage shown with dazzling whiteness。 They uttered a singular cry； as
they spread their glorious wings and flew away from those cold regions
to warmer countries across the sea。 As they mounted higher and
higher in the air； the ugly little duckling felt quite a strange
sensation as he watched them。 He whirled himself in the water like a
wheel； stretched out his neck towards them； and uttered a cry so
strange that it frightened himself。 Could he ever forget those
beautiful； happy birds； and when at last they were out of his sight；
he dived under the water； and rose again almost beside himself with
excitement。 He knew not the names of these birds； nor where they had
flown； but he felt towards them as he had never felt for any other
bird in the world。 He was not envious of these beautiful creatures；
but wished to be as lovely as they。 Poor ugly creature； how gladly
he would have lived even with the ducks had they only given him
encouragement。 The winter grew colder and colder； he was obliged to
swim about on the water to keep it from freezing； but every night
the space on which he swam became smaller and smaller。 At length it
froze so hard that the ice in the water crackled as he moved； and
the duckling had to paddle with his legs as well as he could； to
keep the space from closing up。 He became exhausted at last； and lay
still and helpless； frozen fast in the ice。
Early in the morning； a peasant； who was passing by； saw what
had happened。 He broke the ice in pieces with his wooden shoe； and
carried the duckling home to his wife。 The warmth revived the poor
little creature； but when the children wanted to play with him； the
duckling thought they would do him some harm； so he started up in
terror； fluttered into the milk…pan； and splashed the milk about the
room。 Then the woman clapped her hands； which frightened him still
more。 He flew first into the butter…cask； then into the meal…tub；
and out again。 What a condition he was in！ The woman screamed； and
struck at him with the tongs； the children laughed and screamed； and
tumbled over each other； in their efforts to catch him； but luckily he
escaped。 The door stood open； the poor creature could just manage to
slip out among the bushes； and lie down quite exhausted in the newly
fallen snow。
It would be very sad； were I to relate all the misery and
privations which the poor little duckling endured during the hard
winter； but when it had passed； he found himself lying one morning
in a moor； amongst the rushes。 He felt the warm sun shining； and heard
the lark singing； and saw that all around was beautiful spring。 Then
the young bird felt that his wings were strong； as he flapped them
against his sides； and rose high into the air。 They bore him
onwards； until he found himself in a large garden； before he well knew
how it had happened。 The apple…trees were in full blossom； and the
fragrant elders bent their long green branches down to the stream
which wound round a smooth lawn。 Everything looked beautiful； in the
freshness of early spring。 From a thicket close by came three
beautiful white swans； rustling their feathers； and swimming lightly
over the smooth water。 The duckling remembered the lovely birds； and
felt more strangely unhappy than ever。
〃I will fly to those royal birds；〃 he exclaimed； 〃and they will
kill me； because I am so ugly； and dare to approach them； but it
does not matter： better be killed by them than pecked by the ducks；
beaten by the hens； pushed about by the maiden who feeds the
poultry； or starved with hunger in the winter。〃
Then he flew to the water； and swam towards the beautiful swans。
The moment they espied the stranger； they rushed to meet him with
outstretched wings。
〃Kill me；〃 said the poor bird； and he bent his head down to the
surface of the water； and awaited death。
But what did he see in the clear stream below？ His own image； no
longer a dark； gray bird； ugly and disagreeable to look at； but a
graceful and beautiful swan。 To be born in a duck's nest； in a
farmyard； is of no consequence to a bird； if it is hatched from a
swan's egg。 He now felt glad at having suffered sorrow and trouble；
because it enabled him to enjoy so much better all the pleasure and
happiness around him； for the great swans swam round the new…comer；
and stroked his neck with their beaks； as a welcome。
Into the garden presently came some little children； and threw
bread and cake into the water。
〃See；〃 cried the youngest； 〃there is a new one；〃 and the rest were
delighted； and ran to their father and mother； dancing and clapping
their hands； and shouting joyously； 〃There is another swan come； a new
one has arrived。〃
Then they threw more bread and cake into the water； and said； 〃The
new one is the most beautiful of all； he is so young and pretty。〃
And the old swans bowed their heads before him。
Then he felt quite ashamed； and hid his head under his wing； for
he did not know what to do； he was so happy； and yet not at all proud。
He had been persecuted and despised for his ugliness； and now he heard
them say he was the most beautiful of all the birds。 Even the
elder…tree bent down its bows into the water before him； and the sun
shone warm and bright。 Then he rustled his feathers； curved his
slender neck； and cried joyfully； from the depths of his heart； 〃I
never dreamed of such happiness as this； while I was an ugly
duckling。〃
THE END
。