late day before all became quiet, but even then the poor young thing dare to move He waited quietly for several hours, and then, after looking carefully around him, hastened away moor as fast as He ran over field and meadow till storm arose, and hardly struggle against it

Towards evening, he reached poor little cottage that seemed ready , and only remained standing because it decide side first The storm continued so violent, duckling could go no farther; he sat down cottage, and then he noticed door was not quite closed in consequence of hinges having given way therefore narrow opening near the bottom large enough for him to slip through, which very quietly, and got shelter night

woman, tom cat, and hen lived cottage The tom cat, whom the mistress called, My little son, was great favorite; raise his back, and purr, and could even throw out sparks fur were stroked the wrong way The hen had very short legs, so she was called Chickie short legs She laid good eggs, and her mistress loved her she her own child

morning, the strange visitor was discovered, tom cat began to purr, hen to cluck

What noise about ? said the old woman, looking round the room, but her sight was not ; therefore, when she saw the duckling she thought it fat duck, that had strayed from home Oh what prize ! she exclaimed, drake, for then some duck's eggs wait

So the duckling was allowed to remain on trial for three weeks, but there were no eggs Now the tom cat master house, hen was mistress, always said, We world, for they believed themselves half the world, better half too The duckling thought that others might hold different opinion , but the hen listen to such doubts

lay eggs ? she asked

No

Then have the goodness to hold your tongue

raise your back, or purr, or throw out sparks ? said the tom cat

No

Then no right to express an opinion when sensible people are speaking

So the duckling sat in corner, feeling very low spirited, till the sunshine fresh air came room open door, and then he began such great longing for swim water, that help telling the hen

What an absurd idea, said the hen nothing else , therefore foolish fancies purr or lay eggs, pass away

But so delightful to swim about water, said the duckling, and so refreshing it close over your head, while you dive down bottom

Delightful, indeed ! said the hen, why crazy ! cat, he cleverest animal , ask him how like to swim about water, or to dive under it, for speak own opinion; ask our mistress, the old woman no one more clever than 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 ? understand you, I wonder ? consider yourself more clever cat, or the old woman ? say nothing of myself Don't imagine such nonsense, child, and thank your good fortune that received here not in warm room, and in society learn something But chatterer, and your company very agreeable Believe me, I speak only for your own good tell you unpleasant truths, but proof friendship I advise you, therefore, to lay eggs, and learn to purr as quickly as possible

I believe go out world again, said the duckling

Yes, do, said the hen

So the duckling left the cottage, and soon found water it could swim and dive, but was avoided by all other animals, because ugly appearance

Autumn came, leaves forest turned to orange and gold Then, as winter approached, the wind caught them fell and whirled them cold air The clouds, heavy with hail and snow-flakes, hung low sky, raven stood ferns crying, Croak, croak It made one shiver with cold to look at him All very sad poor little duckling

One evening, just sun set amid radiant clouds, there came large flock of beautiful birds bushes The duckling had never seen any like them before They were swans, curved their graceful necks, while their soft plumage shown with dazzling whiteness They uttered singular cry, spread their glorious wings and flew away from those cold regions to warmer countries across the sea mounted higher and higher air, the ugly little duckling felt quite strange sensation as he watched them He whirled himself water like wheel, stretched out his neck towards them, and uttered cry so strange frightened himself Could he ever forget those beautiful, happy birds; and when at last they were out sight, he dived under the water, and rose again almost beside himself with excitement not the names birds, nor where they had flown, but towards them as he had never felt for bird not envious beautiful creatures, but wished as lovely Poor ugly creature, how gladly lived even ducks had they only given him encouragement

The winter grew colder and colder; obliged to swim about water it from freezing, but every night the space he swam became smaller and smaller it froze so hard ice water crackled as he moved, duckling had to paddle legs as , the space from closing up He became exhausted at last, and lay still and helpless, frozen fast ice

Early morning, peasant, who was passing by, saw what had happened He broke the ice in pieces wooden shoe, and carried the duckling home wife The warmth revived the poor little creature

But children wanted to play , the duckling thought do him some harm; so he started up in terror, fluttered milk-pan, and splashed the milk room Then the woman clapped her hands, which frightened him still more He flew first butter-cask, then meal-tub, and out again What condition in ! The woman screamed, and struck at him tongs; the children laughed and screamed, and tumbled over , in their efforts to catch him; but luckily he escaped The door stood open; the poor creature could just manage to slip out bushes, and lie down quite exhausted newly fallen snow

It 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, himself lying one morning in moor, amongst the rushes 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 air They bore him onwards, until himself in large garden, before he well knew how it had happened The apple-trees were in full blossom, fragrant elders bent their long green branches down stream which wound round smooth lawn Everything looked beautiful, freshness of early spring From 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

fly royal birds, he exclaimed, and kill me, because so ugly, and dare to approach them; but it matter: better be killed than pecked ducks, beaten hens, pushed about maiden who feeds the poultry, or starved with hunger winter Then he flew 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 surface water, and awaited death But what did he see clear stream below ? His own image; no longer dark, gray bird, ugly and disagreeable to look at, but graceful and beautiful swan

born in duck's nest, in farmyard, is of no consequence to bird, hatched from swan's egg

He now felt glad at having suffered sorrow and trouble, because it enabled him to enjoy better all the pleasure and happiness around him; great swans swam round the new-comer, and stroked his neck with their beaks, as welcome

garden presently came some little children, and threw bread and cake water

See, cried the youngest, new one; rest were delighted, and ran father and mother, dancing and clapping their hands, and shouting joyously, another swan come; new one has arrived Then they threw more bread and cake water, and said, The new one most beautiful of all; so young and pretty old swans bowed their heads before him

Then quite ashamed, and hid his head under his wing; for know what , so happy, and yet not at all proud He persecuted and despised ugliness, and now he heard them say he most beautiful of all the birds Even the elder-tree bent down its bows water before him, sun shone warm and bright Then he rustled his feathers, curved his slender neck, and cried joyfully, depths heart, I never dreamed happiness , while an ugly duckling

THE END