English
Onthenextdaytheweatherwasdelightful,andthesunshonebrightlyonthegreenburdockleaves,sothemotherducktookheryoungbrooddowntothewater,andjumpedinwithasplash."Quack,quack,"criedshe,andoneafteranotherthelittleducklingsjumpedin.
Thewaterclosedovertheirheads,buttheycameupagaininaninstant,andswamaboutquiteprettilywiththeirlegspaddlingunderthemaseasilyaspossible,andtheuglyducklingwasalsointhewaterswimmingwiththem.
"Oh,"saidthemother,"thatisnotaturkey;howwellheuseshislegs,andhowuprightheholdshimself!Heismyownchild,andheisnotsoveryuglyafterallifyoulookathimproperly.Quack,quack!comewithmenow,Iwilltakeyouintograndsociety,andintroduceyoutothefarmyard,butyoumustkeepclosetomeoryoumaybetroddenupon;and,aboveall,bewareofthecat."
Whentheyreachedthefarmyard,therewasagreatdisturbance,twofamilieswerefightingforaneel'shead,which,afterall,wascarriedoffbythecat.
"See,children,thatisthewayoftheworld,"saidthemotherduck,whettingherbeak,forshewouldhavelikedtheeel'sheadherself.
"Come,now,useyourlegs,andletmeseehowwellyoucanbehave.Youmustbowyourheadsprettilytothatoldduckyonder;sheisthehighestbornofthemall,andhasSpanishblood,therefore,sheiswelloff.
Don'tyouseeshehasaredflagtiedtoherleg,whichissomethingverygrand,andagreathonorforaduck;itshowsthateveryoneisanxiousnottoloseher,asshecanberecognizedbothbymanandbeast.Come,now,don'tturnyourtoes,awell-bredducklingspreadshisfeetwideapart,justlikehisfatherandmother,inthisway;nowbendyourneck,andsay'quack.'"
Theducklingsdidastheywerebid,buttheotherduckstared,andsaid,"Look,herecomesanotherbrood,asiftherewerenotenoughofusalready!andwhataqueerlookingobjectoneofthemis;wedon'twanthimhere,"andthenoneflewoutandbithimintheneck.
"Lethimalone,"saidthemother;"heisnotdoinganyharm."
"Yes,butheissobigandugly,"saidthespitefulduck"andthereforehemustbeturnedout."
"Theothersareveryprettychildren,"saidtheoldduck,withtheragonherleg,"allbutthatone;Iwishhismothercouldimprovehimalittle."
"Thatisimpossible,yourgrace,"repliedthemother;"heisnotpretty;buthehasaverygooddisposition,andswimsaswellorevenbetterthantheothers.
Ithinkhewillgrowuppretty,andperhapsbesmaller;hehasremainedtoolongintheegg,andthereforehisfigureisnotproperlyformed;"andthenshestrokedhisneckandsmoothedthefeathers,saying,"Itisadrake,andthereforenotofsomuchconsequence.Ithinkhewillgrowupstrong,andabletotakecareofhimself."
"Theotherducklingsaregracefulenough,"saidtheoldduck."Nowmakeyourselfathome,andifyoucanfindaneel'shead,youcanbringittome."
Andsotheymadethemselvescomfortable;butthepoorduckling,whohadcreptoutofhisshelllastofall,andlookedsougly,wasbittenandpushedandmadefunof,notonlybytheducks,butbyallthepoultry.
"Heistoobig,"theyallsaid,andtheturkeycock,whohadbeenbornintotheworldwithspurs,andfanciedhimselfreallyanemperor,puffedhimselfoutlikeavesselinfullsail,andflewattheduckling,andbecamequiteredintheheadwithpassion,sothatthepoorlittlethingdidnotknowwheretogo,andwasquitemiserablebecausehewassouglyandlaughedatbythewholefarmyard.Soitwentonfromdaytodaytillitgotworseandworse.
Thepoorducklingwasdrivenaboutbyeveryone;evenhisbrothersandsisterswereunkindtohim,andwouldsay,"Ah,youuglycreature,Iwishthecatwouldgetyou,"andhismothersaidshewishedhehadneverbeenborn.
Theduckspeckedhim,thechickensbeathim,andthegirlwhofedthepoultrykickedhimwithherfeet.Soatlastheranaway,frighteningthelittlebirdsinthehedgeasheflewoverthepalings.
"TheyareafraidofmebecauseIamugly,"hesaid.Soheclosedhiseyes,andflewstillfarther,untilhecameoutonalargemoor,inhabitedbywildducks.Hereheremainedthewholenight,feelingverytiredandsorrowful.
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