The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen
Section [1 | 2]
on_the water, that he_could_not help telling the hen .

what an absurd idea, said the hen . you_have nothing else to_do, therefore you_have foolish fancies . if_you_could purr or lay eggs, they_would pass away .

but it_is so delightful to swim about on_the water, said the duckling, and so refreshing to_feel it close over your head, while you dive down to_the bottom .

delightful, indeed ! said the hen, why you_must_be crazy ! ask_the cat, he is_the cleverest animal I_know, ask him how he_would like to swim about on_the water, or to dive under it, for i_will_not speak of_my own opinion; ask our mistress, the old woman there_is no one in_the_world more clever than she_is . do_you_think she_would like to swim, or to let the water close over her head ?

you don't understand me, said the duckling .

we don't understand you ? who_can understand you, I wonder ? do_you consider yourself more clever than_the cat, or the old woman ? i_will say nothing of myself .Don't imagine such nonsense, child, and thank your good fortune that you_have_been received here . are_you not in a warm room, and in society from_which you_may learn something . but you_are a chatterer, and your company is_not very agreeable . believe me, I speak only for your own good . I_may tell you unpleasant truths, but that_is a proof of_my friendship .I advise you, therefore, to lay eggs, and learn to purr as quickly as possible .

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

Section [1 | 2]