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wn to the water sidegrew great burdock leaves； so high； that under the tallest of them alittle child could stand upright。 The spot was as wild as the centreof a thick wood。 In this snug retreat sat a duck on her nest； watchingfor her young brood to hatch； she was beginning to get tired of hertask； for the little ones were a long time ing out of their shells；and she seldom had any visitors。 The other ducks liked much betterto swim about in the river than to climb the slippery banks； and situnder a burdock leaf； to have a gossip with her。 At length one shellcracked； and then another； and from each egg came a living creaturethat lifted its head and cried； 〃Peep； peep。〃 〃Quack； quack；〃 said themother； and then they all quacked as well as they could； and lookedabout them on every side at the large green leaves。 Their motherallowed them to look as much as they liked； because green is goodfor the eyes。 〃How large the world is；〃 said the young ducks； whenthey found how much more room they now had than while they were insidethe egg…shell。 〃Do you imagine this is the whole world？〃 asked themother； 〃Wait till you have seen the garden； it stretches far beyondthat to the parson's field； but I have never ventured to such adistance。 Are you all out？〃 she continued； rising； 〃No； I declare； thelargest egg lies there still。 I wonder how long this is to last； Iam quite tired of it；〃 and she seated herself again on the nest。
〃Well； how are you getting on？〃 asked an old duck； who paid hera visit。
〃One egg is not hatched yet；〃 said the duck； 〃it will not break。But just look at all the others； are they not the prettiest littleducklings you ever saw？ They are the image of their father； who isso unkind； he never es to see。〃
〃Let me see the egg that will not break；〃 said the duck； 〃I haveno doubt it is a turkey's egg。 I was persuaded to hatch some once； andafter all my care and trouble with the young ones； they were afraid ofthe water。 I quacked and clucked； but all to no purpose。 I could notget them to venture in。 Let me look at the egg。 Yes； that is aturkey's egg； take my advice； leave it where it is and teach the otherchildren to swim。〃
〃I think I will sit on it a little while longer；〃 said the duck；〃as I have sat so long already； a few days will be nothing。〃
〃Please yourself；〃 said the old duck； and she went away。
At last the large egg broke； and a young one crept forth crying；〃Peep； peep。〃 It was very large and ugly。 The duck stared at it andexclaimed； 〃It is very large and not at all like the others。 Iwonder if it really is a turkey。 We shall soon find it out； howeverwhen we go to the water。 It must go in； if I have to push it myself。〃
On the next day the weather was delightful； and the sun shonebrightly on the green burdock leaves； so the mother duck took heryoung brood down to the water； and jumped in with a splash。 〃Quack；quack；〃 cried she； and one after another the little ducklings jumpedin。 The water closed over their heads； but they came up again in aninstant； and swam about quite prettily with their legs paddlingunder them as easily as possible； and the ugly duckling was also inthe water swimming with them。
〃Oh；〃 said the mother； 〃that is not a turkey； how well he uses hislegs； and how upright he holds himself！ He is my own child； and heis not so very ugly after all if you look at him properly。 Quack；quack！ e with me now； I will take you into grand society； andintroduce you to the farmyard； but you must keep close to me or youmay be trodden upon； and； above all； beware of the cat。〃
When they reached the farmyard； there was a great disturbance； twofamilies were fighting for an eel's head； which； after all； wascarried off by the cat。 〃See； children； that is the way of the world；〃said the mother duck； whetting her beak； for she would have likedthe eel's head herself。 〃e； now； use your legs； and let me seehow well you can behave。 You must bow your heads prettily to thatold duck yonder； she is the highest born of them all； and hasSpanish blood； therefore； she is well off。 Don't you see she has a redflag tied to her leg； which is something very grand； and a great honorfor a duck； it shows that every one is anxious not to lose her； as shecan be recognized both by man and beast。 e； now； don't turn yourtoes； a well…bred duckling spreads his feet wide apart； just likehis father and mother； in this way； now bend your neck； and say'quack。'〃
The ducklings did as they were bid； but the other duck stared； andsaid； 〃Look； here es another brood； as if there were not enoughof us already！ and what a queer looking object one of them is； wedon't want him here；〃 and then one flew out and bit him in the neck。
〃Let him alone；〃 said the mother； 〃he is not doing any harm。〃
〃Yes； but he is so big and ugly；〃 said the spiteful duck 〃andtherefore he must be turned out。〃
〃The others are very pretty children；〃 said the old duck； with therag on her leg； 〃all but that one； I wish his mother could improve hima little。〃
〃That is impossible； your grace；〃 replied the mother； 〃he is notpretty； but he has a very good disposition； and swims as well oreven better than the others。 I think he will grow up pretty； andperhaps be smaller； he has remained too long in the egg； and thereforehis figure is not properly formed；〃 and then she stroked his neckand smoothed the feathers； saying； 〃It is a drake； and therefore notof so much consequence。 I think he will grow up strong； and able totake care of himself。〃
〃The other ducklings are graceful enough；〃 said the old duck。 〃Nowmake yourself at home； and if you can find an eel's head； you canbring it to me。〃
And so they made themselves fortable； but the poor duckling；who had crept out of his shell last of all； and looked so ugly； wasbitten and pushed and made fun of； not only by the ducks； but by allthe poultry。 〃He is too big；〃 they all said； and the turkey cock；who had been born into the world with spurs； and fancied himselfreally an emperor； puffed himself out like a vessel in full sail；and flew at the duckling； and became quite red in the head withpassion； so that the poor little thing did not know where to go； andwas quite miserable because he was so ugly and laughed at by the wholefarmyard。 So it went on from day to day till it got worse and worse。The poor duckling was driven about by every one； even his brothers andsisters were unkind to him； and would say； 〃Ah； you ugly creature； Iwish the cat would get you；〃 and his mother said she wished he hadnever been born。 The ducks pecked him； the chickens beat him； andthe girl who fed the poultry kicked him with her feet。 So at last heran away； frightening the little birds in the hedge as he flew overthe palings。
〃They are afraid of me because I am ugly；〃 he said。 So he closedhis eyes； and flew still farther； until he came out on a large moor；inhabited by wild ducks。 Here he remained the whole night； feelingvery tired and sorrowful。
In the morning； when the wild ducks rose in the air； they staredat their new rade。 〃What sort of a duck are you？〃 they all said；ing round him。
He bowed to them； and was as polite as he could be； but he did notreply to their question。 〃You are exceedingly ugly；〃 said the wildducks； 〃but that will not matter if you do not want to marry one ofour family。〃
Poor thing！ he had no thoughts of marriage； all he wanted waspermission to lie among the rushes； and drink some of the water on themoor。 After he had been on the moor two days； there came two wildgeese； or rather goslings； for they had not been out of the egglong； and were very saucy。 〃Listen； friend；〃 said one of them to theduckling； 〃you are so ugly； that we like you very well。 Will you gowith us； and bee a bird of passage？ Not far from here is anothermoor； in which there are some pretty wild geese； all unmarried。 Itis a chance for you to get a wife； you may be lucky； ugly as you are。〃
〃Pop； pop；〃 sounded in the air； and the two wild geese fell deadamong the rushes； and the water was tinged with blood。 〃Pop； pop；〃echoed far and wide in the distance； and whole flocks of wild geeserose up from the rushes。 The sound continued from every direction； forthe sportsmen surrounded the moor； and some were even seated onbranches of trees； overlooking the rushes。 The blue