by Hans Christian Andersen

translation by H P Paull (1872)

lovely summer weather country, golden corn, the green oats, haystacks piled up meadows looked beautiful The stork walking about long red legs chattered Egyptian language, which he had learnt mother The corn-fields and meadows were surrounded by large forests, midst were deep pools , indeed, delightful to walk about country In sunny spot stood pleasant old farm-house close by deep river, and house down water side grew great burdock leaves, so high, that under the tallest little child could stand upright The spot was as wild centre of thick wood snug retreat sat duck on her nest, watching for her young brood to hatch; she was beginning tired of her task, little ones were coming out shells, and she seldom had any visitors The other ducks liked much better to swim about river than to climb the slippery banks, and sit under burdock leaf, gossip with her

one shell cracked, and then another, and from each egg came living creature that lifted its head and cried, Peep, peep

Quack, quack, said the mother, and then they all quacked as , and looked on every side large green leaves Their mother allowed them to look liked, because green is good eyes

How large the world is, said the young ducks, found more room they now had than while they were inside the egg-shell

imagine whole world ? asked the mother; Wait till seen the garden; it stretches far beyond that parson's field, but never ventured to such distance all out ? she continued, rising; No, I declare, the largest egg lies there still I wonder how long to last, quite tired of it; and she seated herself again nest

Well, how getting on ? asked an old duck, who paid her visit

One egg hatched yet, said the duck, break But just look at all the others, are they not the prettiest little ducklings you ever saw ? the image father, so unkind, he never comes

Let me see the egg break, said the duck; turkey's egg persuaded to hatch some once, and after all my care and trouble young ones, they were afraid water I quacked and clucked, but all to no purpose get them to venture in Let me look egg Yes, turkey's egg; take my advice, leave it where and teach the other children to swim

sit little while longer, said the duck; as sat already, nothing

Please yourself, said the old duck, and she went away

At last the large egg broke, and young one crept forth crying, Peep, peep very large and ugly The duck stared at it and exclaimed, very large and not at all like the others I wonder really is turkey soon find it out, however when we go water It must go in, if to push it myself

the weather was delightful, sun shone brightly green burdock leaves, so the mother duck took her young brood down water, and jumped in with 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, ugly duckling was also water swimming

Oh, said the mother, turkey; how well he uses his legs, and how upright he holds himself ! my own child, and so very ugly after all look at him properly Quack, quack ! come with me now, take you into grand society, and introduce you farmyard, but keep close or trodden upon; and, above all, beware cat

reached the farmyard, great disturbance, two families were fighting for an eel's head, which, after all, was carried off cat

See, children, way world, said the mother duck, whetting her beak, for she liked the eel's head herself Come, now, use your legs, and let me see how well behave bow your heads prettily old duck yonder; the highest born all, and has Spanish blood, therefore, well off Don't she has red flag tied to her leg, something very grand, and great honor for duck; it shows that is anxious not to lose her, as be recognized both by man and beast Come, now, don't turn your toes, well-bred duckling spreads his feet wide apart, just like his father and mother, ; now bend your neck, and say quack

The ducklings did were bid, but the other duck stared, and said, Look, here comes another brood, there enough of us already ! and what queer looking object is; we don't want him here, and then one flew out and bit him neck

Let him alone, said the mother; doing any harm

Yes, but so big and ugly, said the spiteful duck and therefore turned out

The others are very pretty children, said the old duck, rag on her leg, all but that one; his mother could improve him little

impossible, your grace, replied the mother; pretty; but he has disposition, and swims or even better others grow up pretty, and perhaps be smaller; he has remained too long egg, and therefore his figure properly formed; and then she stroked his neck and smoothed the feathers, saying, drake, and therefore not of consequence grow up strong, and able care of himself

The other ducklings are graceful enough, said the old duck Now make yourself at home, and find an eel's head, bring it

And so they made themselves comfortable

But the poor duckling, who had crept out shell last of all, and looked so ugly, was bitten and pushed and made fun of, ducks, but by all the poultry too big, they all said, turkey cock, who born world with spurs, and fancied himself really an emperor, puffed himself out like vessel in full sail, and flew duckling, and became quite red head with passion, so poor little thing know where , and was quite miserable because so ugly and laughed at whole farmyard

So it went on from day to day till it got worse and worse The poor duckling was driven about by ; even his brothers and sisters were unkind to him, and would say, Ah, you ugly creature, the cat would get you, mother said she wished he had never been born The ducks pecked him, the chickens beat him, girl who fed the poultry kicked him with her feet

So at last he ran away, frightening the little birds hedge as he flew over the palings afraid of me because ugly, So he closed his eyes, and flew still farther, until out on large moor, inhabited by wild ducks Here he remained the whole night, feeling very tired and sorrowful

morning, wild ducks rose air, they stared at their new comrade What sort of duck ? they all said, coming round him He bowed , and was as polite as be, but reply question

exceedingly ugly, said the wild ducks, but matter want to marry family Poor thing ! he had no thoughts of marriage; all was permission to lie rushes, and drink water moor

After he moor two days, there came two wild geese, or rather goslings, for they egg long, and were very saucy

Listen, friend, said duckling, so ugly, that we like you go , and become bird of passage ? Not far from another moor, some pretty wild geese, all unmarried chance wife; lucky, ugly

Pop, pop, sounded air, two wild geese fell dead rushes, water was tinged with blood Pop, pop, echoed far and wide distance, and whole flocks of wild geese rose up rushes The sound continued from every direction, sportsmen surrounded the moor, and some were even seated on branches of trees, overlooking the rushes The blue smoke guns rose like clouds over the dark trees, and as it floated away across the water, number of sporting dogs bounded in rushes, which bent beneath them wherever they went How they terrified the poor duckling ! He turned away his head to hide it under his wing, and same moment large terrible dog passed quite near him His jaws were open, his tongue hung mouth, eyes glared fearfully He thrust his nose close duckling, showing his sharp teeth, and then, splash, splash, he went water without touching him

Oh, sighed the duckling, how thankful for being so ugly; even dog will not bite me

And so he lay quite still, while the shot rattled rushes, and gun after gun was fired over him