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urrounded the moor； and some were even seated onbranches of trees； overlooking the rushes。 The blue smoke from theguns rose like clouds over the dark trees； and as it floated awayacross the water； a number of sporting dogs bounded in among therushes； which bent beneath them wherever they went。 How they terrifiedthe poor duckling！ He turned away his head to hide it under hiswing； and at the same moment a large terrible dog passed quite nearhim。 His jaws were open； his tongue hung from his mouth； and hiseyes glared fearfully。 He thrust his nose close to the duckling；showing his sharp teeth； and then； 〃splash； splash；〃 he went intothe water without touching him； 〃Oh；〃 sighed the duckling； 〃howthankful I am for being so ugly； even a dog will not bite me。〃 Andso 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 beforeall became quiet； but even then the poor young thing did not dare tomove。 He waited quietly for several hours； and then； after lookingcarefully 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 hardlystruggle against it。 Towards evening； he reached a poor little cottagethat seemed ready to fall； and only remained standing because it couldnot decide on which side to fall first。 The storm continued soviolent； that the duckling could go no farther； he sat down by thecottage； and then he noticed that the door was not quite closed inconsequence of one of the hinges having given way。 There was thereforea 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； atom cat； and a hen lived in this cottage。 The tom cat； whom themistress called； 〃My little son；〃 was a great favorite； he could raisehis back； and purr； and could even throw out sparks from his fur if itwere stroked the wrong way。 The hen had very short legs； so she wascalled 〃Chickie short legs。〃 She laid good eggs； and her mistressloved her as if she had been her own child。 In the morning； thestrange visitor was discovered； and the tom cat began to purr； and thehen to cluck。
〃What is that noise about？〃 said the old woman； looking roundthe room； but her sight was not very good； therefore； when she saw theduckling she thought it must be a fat duck； that had strayed fromhome。 〃Oh what a prize！〃 she exclaimed； 〃I hope it is not a drake； forthen I shall have some duck's eggs。 I must wait and see。〃 So theduckling was allowed to remain on trial for three weeks； but therewere no eggs。 Now the tom cat was the master of the house； and the henwas mistress； and they always said； 〃We and the world；〃 for theybelieved themselves to be half the world； and the better half too。 Theduckling thought that others might hold a different opinion on thesubject； but the hen would not listen to such doubts。 〃Can you layeggs？〃 she asked。 〃No。〃 〃Then have the goodness to hold yourtongue。〃 〃Can you raise your back； or purr； or throw out sparks？〃 saidthe tom cat。 〃No。〃 〃Then you have no right to express an opinionwhen sensible people are speaking。〃 So the duckling sat in a corner；feeling very low spirited； till the sunshine and the fresh air cameinto the room through the open door； and then he began to feel sucha great longing for a swim on the water； that he could not helptelling 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 theduckling； 〃and so refreshing to feel it close over your head； whileyou dive down to the bottom。〃
〃Delightful； indeed！〃 said the hen； 〃why you must be crazy！ Askthe cat； he is the cleverest animal I know； ask him how he wouldlike to swim about on the water； or to dive under it； for I will notspeak of my own opinion； ask our mistress； the old woman… there isno one in the world more clever than she is。 Do you think she wouldlike 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 youconsider yourself more clever than the cat； or the old woman？ I willsay nothing of myself。 Don't imagine such nonsense； child； and thankyour good fortune that you have been received here。 Are you not in awarm room； and in society from which you may learn something。 Butyou are a chatterer； and your pany is not very agreeable。 Believeme； I speak only for your own good。 I may tell you unpleasanttruths； 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； andsoon found water on which it could swim and dive； but was avoided byall other animals； because of its ugly appearance。 Autumn came； andthe leaves in the forest turned to orange and gold。 then； as winterapproached； the wind caught them as they fell and whirled them inthe cold air。 The clouds； heavy with hail and snow…flakes； hung low inthe sky； and the raven stood on the ferns crying； 〃Croak； croak。〃 Itmade one shiver with cold to look at him。 All this was very sad forthe poor little duckling。 One evening； just as the sun set amidradiant clouds； there came a large flock of beautiful birds out of thebushes。 The duckling had never seen any like them before。 They wereswans； and they curved their graceful necks； while their softplumage shown with dazzling whiteness。 They uttered a singular cry； asthey spread their glorious wings and flew away from those cold regionsto warmer countries across the sea。 As they mounted higher andhigher in the air； the ugly little duckling felt quite a strangesensation as he watched them。 He whirled himself in the water like awheel； stretched out his neck towards them； and uttered a cry sostrange that it frightened himself。 Could he ever forget thosebeautiful； happy birds； and when at last they were out of his sight；he dived under the water； and rose again almost beside himself withexcitement。 He knew not the names of these birds； nor where they hadflown； but he felt towards them as he had never felt for any otherbird in the world。 He was not envious of these beautiful creatures；but wished to be as lovely as they。 Poor ugly creature； how gladlyhe would have lived even with the ducks had they only given himencouragement。 The winter grew colder and colder； he was obliged toswim about on the water to keep it from freezing； but every nightthe space on which he swam became smaller and smaller。 At length itfroze so hard that the ice in the water crackled as he moved； andthe duckling had to paddle with his legs as well as he could； tokeep the space from closing up。 He became exhausted at last； and laystill and helpless； frozen fast in the ice。
Early in the morning； a peasant； who was passing by； saw whathad happened。 He broke the ice in pieces with his wooden shoe； andcarried the duckling home to his wife。 The warmth revived the poorlittle creature； but when the children wanted to play with him； theduckling thought they would do him some harm； so he started up interror； fluttered into the milk…pan； and splashed the milk about theroom。 Then the woman clapped her hands； which frightened him stillmore。 He flew first into the butter…cask； then into the meal…tub；and out again。 What a condition he was in！ The woman screamed； andstruck at him with the tongs； the children laughed and screamed； andtumbled over each other； in their efforts to catch him； but luckily heescaped。 The door stood open； the poor creature could just manage toslip out among the bushes； and lie down quite exhausted in the newlyfallen snow。
It would be very sad； were I to relate all the misery andprivations which the poor little duckling endured during the hardwinter； but when it had passed； he found himself lying one morningin a moor； amongst the rushes。 He felt the warm sun shining； and heardthe lark singing； and saw that all around was beautiful spring。 Thenthe young bird felt that his wings were strong； as he flapped themagainst his sides； and rose high