English
Itwaslovelysummerweatherinthecountry,andthegoldencorn,thegreenoats,andthehaystackspiledupinthemeadowslookedbeautiful.
ThestorkwalkingaboutonhislongredlegschatteredintheEgyptianlanguage,whichhehadlearntfromhismother.Thecorn-fieldsandmeadowsweresurroundedbylargeforests,inthemidstofwhichweredeeppools.Itwas,indeed,delightfultowalkaboutinthecountry.
Inasunnyspotstoodapleasantoldfarm-houseclosebyadeepriver,andfromthehousedowntothewatersidegrewgreatburdockleaves,sohigh,thatunderthetallestofthemalittlechildcouldstandupright.
Thespotwasaswildasthecentreofathickwood.Inthissnugretreatsataduckonhernest,watchingforheryoungbroodtohatch;shewasbeginningtogettiredofhertask,forthelittleoneswerealongtimecomingoutoftheirshells,andsheseldomhadanyvisitors.
Theotherduckslikedmuchbettertoswimaboutintheriverthantoclimbtheslipperybanks,andsitunderaburdockleaf,tohaveagossipwithher.
Atlengthoneshellcracked,andthenanother,andfromeacheggcamealivingcreaturethatlifteditsheadandcried,"Peep,peep.""Quack,quack,"saidthemother,andthentheyallquackedaswellastheycould,andlookedaboutthemoneverysideatthelargegreenleaves.
Theirmotherallowedthemtolookasmuchastheyliked,becausegreenisgoodfortheeyes."Howlargetheworldis,"saidtheyoungducks,whentheyfoundhowmuchmoreroomtheynowhadthanwhiletheywereinsidetheegg-shell."Doyouimaginethisisthewholeworld?"askedthemother;"Waittillyouhaveseenthegarden;itstretchesfarbeyondthattotheparson'sfield,butIhaveneverventuredtosuchadistance.
Areyouallout?"shecontinued,rising;"No,Ideclare,thelargesteggliestherestill.Iwonderhowlongthisistolast,Iamquitetiredofit;"andsheseatedherselfagainonthenest.
"Well,howareyougettingon?"askedanoldduck,whopaidheravisit.
"Oneeggisnothatchedyet,"saidtheduck,"itwillnotbreak.Butjustlookatalltheothers,aretheynottheprettiestlittleducklingsyoueversaw?Theyaretheimageoftheirfather,whoissounkind,henevercomestosee."
"Letmeseetheeggthatwillnotbreak,"saidtheduck;"Ihavenodoubtitisaturkey'segg.Iwaspersuadedtohatchsomeonce,andafterallmycareandtroublewiththeyoungones,theywereafraidofthewater.Iquackedandclucked,butalltonopurpose.
Icouldnotgetthemtoventurein.Letmelookattheegg.Yes,thatisaturkey'segg;takemyadvice,leaveitwhereitisandteachtheotherchildrentoswim."
"IthinkIwillsitonitalittlewhilelonger,"saidtheduck;"asIhavesatsolongalready,afewdayswillbenothing."
"Pleaseyourself,"saidtheoldduck,andshewentaway.
Atlastthelargeeggbroke,andayoungonecreptforthcrying,"Peep,peep."Itwasverylargeandugly.Theduckstaredatitandexclaimed,"Itisverylargeandnotatallliketheothers.Iwonderifitreallyisaturkey.Weshallsoonfinditout,howeverwhenwegotothewater.Itmustgoin,ifIhavetopushitmyself."
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