rose up from the rushes。 The sound continued from every direction； for
the sportsmen surrounded the moor； and some were even seated on
branches of trees； overlooking the rushes。 The blue smoke from the
guns rose like clouds over the dark trees； and as it floated away
across the water； a number of sporting dogs bounded in among the
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 at the same moment a large terrible dog passed quite near
him。 His jaws were open； his tongue hung from his mouth； and his
eyes glared fearfully。 He thrust his nose close to the duckling；
showing his sharp teeth； and then； 〃splash； splash；〃 he went into
the water without touching him； 〃Oh；〃 sighed the duckling； 〃how
thankful I am for being so ugly； even a dog will not bite me。〃 And
so he lay quite still； while the shot rattled through the rushes；
and gun after gun was fired over him。 It was late in the day before
all became quiet； but even then the poor young thing did not dare to
move。 He waited quietly for several hours； and then； after looking
carefully around him； hastened away from the moor as fast as he could。
He ran over field and meadow till a storm arose； and he could hardly
struggle against it。 Towards evening； he reached a poor little cottage
that seemed ready to fall； and only remained standing because it could
not decide on which side to fall first。 The storm continued so
violent； that the duckling could go no farther； he sat down by the
cottage； and then he noticed that the door was not quite closed in
consequence of one of the hinges having given way。 There was therefore
a narrow opening near the bottom large enough for him to slip through；
which he did very quietly； and got a shelter for the night。 A woman； a
tom cat； and a hen lived in this cottage。 The tom cat； whom the
mistress called； 〃My little son；〃 was a great favorite； he could raise
his back； and purr； and could even throw out sparks from his fur if it
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 as if she had been her own child。 In the morning； the
strange visitor was discovered； and the tom cat began to purr； and the
hen to cluck。
〃What is that noise about？〃 said the old woman； looking round
the room； but her sight was not very good； therefore； when she saw the
duckling she thought it must be a fat duck； that had strayed from
home。 〃Oh what a prize！〃 she exclaimed； 〃I hope it is not a drake； for
then I shall have some duck's eggs。 I must wait and see。〃 So the
duckling was allowed to remain on trial for three weeks； but there
were no eggs。 Now the tom cat was the master of the house； and the hen
was mistress； and they always said； 〃We and the world；〃 for they
believed themselves to be half the world； and the better half too。 The
duckling thought that others might hold a different opinion on the
subject； but the hen would not listen to such doubts。 〃Can you lay
eggs？〃 she asked。 〃No。〃 〃Then have the goodness to hold your
tongue。〃 〃Can you raise your back； or purr； or throw out sparks？〃 said
the tom cat。 〃No。〃 〃Then you have no right to express an opinion
when sensible people are speaking。〃 So the duckling sat in a corner；
feeling very low spirited； till the sunshine and the fresh air came
into the room through the open door； and then he began to feel such
a great longing for a swim 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