Hans Andersen is the ugly duckling. ugly duck

It was good for the city! It was summer. The rye was already golden in the fields, the oats were turning green, the hay was swept into haystacks; a long-legged stork paced the green meadow and chatted in Egyptian, the language he had learned from his mother. Behind the fields and meadows, a large forest darkened, and deep blue lakes hid in the forest. Yes, it was good for the city! The sun illuminated the old manor, surrounded by deep ditches with water. The whole earth - from the walls of the house to the very water - was overgrown with burdock, and so high that small children could stand under its largest leaves to their full height.

In the thicket of burdock it was as deaf and wild as in a dense forest, and there a duck was sitting on its eggs. She had been sitting for a long time, and she was tired of this occupation. Moreover, she was rarely visited - other ducks liked to swim in the grooves more than to sit in the burdock and quack with her.

Finally, the eggshells crackled.

The ducklings stirred, clattered their beaks and stuck out their heads.

- Pip, pip! they said.

- Crack, crack! the duck replied. - Hurry up!

The ducklings somehow got out of the shell and began to look around, looking at the green leaves of burdock. Mother did not interfere with them - the green color is good for the eyes.

Oh, how big is the world! - said the ducks. Still would! Now they were much more spacious than in the shell.

"Don't you think the whole world is here?" mother said. - What is there! It stretches far, far away, over there, beyond the garden, beyond the field ... But, to tell the truth, I have never been there in my life! .. Well, has everyone got out yet? Jonah rose to her feet. - Oh no, not yet ... The largest egg is intact! When will this end! I'm about to lose my patience.

And she sat down again.

- Well how are you? asked the old duck, sticking its head into the thicket of burdock.

“Yes, I can’t cope with one egg,” said the young duck. - I sit, I sit, but it still does not burst. But look at those babies that have already hatched. Just beautiful! All as one - in the father! And he, unfit, did not even visit me even once!

“Wait, show me first that egg that does not burst,” said the old duck. “Isn’t it turkey, what good?” Well, yes, of course! .. That's exactly the same way I was once tricked. And how much trouble I had later with these turkey poults! You won’t believe it: they are so afraid of water that you can’t drive them into a ditch. Already I hissed, and quacked, and simply pushed them into the water - they don’t go, and that’s all. Let me take another look. Well, it is! Turkey! Throw him away and go teach your kids to swim!

“No, I’ll probably sit,” said the young duck. “I’ve endured so much that I can endure a little more.

- Well, sit down! said the old duck and left. And finally, the big egg cracked.

— Pip! Pip! - the chick squeaked and fell out of the shell.

But how big and ugly he was! The duck looked at him from all sides and fluttered its wings.

— Terrible freak! - she said. “And not at all like the others!” Is it really a turkey? Well, yes, he will visit me in the water, even if I had to push him there by force!

The next day the weather was wonderful, the green burdock was flooded with sun.

The duck with all his family went to the ditch. Bultykh! - and she found herself in the water.

- Quack-quack! Behind me! Alive! she called, and one by one the ducklings flopped into the water as well.

At first the water covered them completely, but they immediately surfaced and swam well forward. Paws they have earned, and earned. Even the ugly gray duckling kept up with the others.

- What kind of turkey is this? said the duck. - Look how nicely he rows with his paws! And how straight it stays! No, this is my own son. Yes, he is not so bad at all, if you take a good look at him. Well, quick, quick, follow me! I will now introduce you to society - we will go to the poultry yard. Just stay close to me so that someone does not step on you, but watch out for cats!

Soon the duck with all its brood reached the poultry yard. Oh my God! What was that noise! Two families of ducks fought over an eel head. And in the end, this head went to the cat.

This is how it always happens in life! - said the duck and licked her beak with her tongue - she herself was not averse to tasting the eel head. - Well, well, move your paws! she commanded, turning to the ducklings. "Squawk and bow to that old duck over there!" She is the best here. She's Spanish and that's why she's so fat. See, she has a red patch on her paw! How beautiful! This is the highest distinction a duck can receive. This means that they do not want to lose it - both people and animals immediately recognize it by this shred. Well, live! Don't keep your paws together! A well-bred duckling should turn its paws outward. Like this! See. Now tilt your heads and say, "Quack!"

The ducks did just that.

But other ducks looked at them and spoke loudly:

- Well, here's another whole bunch! Without them, there weren't enough of us! And one is ugly! We will never tolerate this!

And immediately one duck flew up and pecked at his neck.

- Leave him! said the mother duck. "He didn't do anything to you!"

- Let's assume it is. But he's kind of big and awkward! the angry duck hissed. “It doesn’t hurt to teach him a little.

And a noble duck with a red patch on its paw said:

- Nice kids you have! Everyone is very, very nice, except for one, perhaps ... The poor fellow did not succeed! It would be nice to change it.

"That's impossible, your grace!" the mother duck replied. “He is not handsome, it is true, but he has a good heart. And he swims no worse, I even dare to say - better than others. I think over time it will even out and become smaller. He had lain in the egg for too long and therefore outgrew a little. And she smoothed the feathers on his back with her beak. “Besides, he’s a drake, and a drake doesn’t really need beauty. I think he will grow up strong and make his way into life.

The rest of the ducklings are very, very cute! said the noble duck. “Well, make yourself at home, and if you find an eel head, you can bring it to me.”

And now the ducklings began to behave like at home. Only the poor duckling, which hatched later than the others and was so ugly, no one gave a pass. He was pecked, pushed and teased not only by ducks, but even by chickens.

- Too big! they said.

And the Indian rooster, who was born with spurs on his feet and therefore imagined himself almost an emperor, pouted and, like a ship in full sail, flew right up to the duckling, looked at him and babbled angrily; his comb was so full of blood. The poor duckling simply did not know what to do, where to go. And he should have been born so ugly that the whole poultry yard laughs at him!

So the first day passed, and then it got even worse. Everyone drove the poor duckling away, even the brothers and sisters angrily told him: “If only the cat would drag you away, you obnoxious freak!” And the mother added: “My eyes would not look at you!” The ducks nibbled at him, the chickens pecked at him, and the girl who fed the birds pushed him away with her foot.

Finally, the duckling could not stand it. He ran across the yard and, spreading his clumsy wings, somehow rolled over the fence right into the thorny bushes.

The little birds sitting on the branches fluttered at once and scattered in different directions.

“It’s because I’m so ugly,” thought the duckling, and, closing his eyes, he rushed to run, not knowing where he was. He ran until then. until he found himself in a swamp where wild ducks lived.

Here he spent the whole night. The poor duckling was tired and very sad.

In the morning, wild ducks woke up in their nests and saw a new comrade.

- What kind of bird is this? they asked. The duckling turned and bowed in all directions as best he could.

- Well, you are ugly! said the wild ducks. “However, we don’t care about that, as long as you don’t climb into our relatives.

Poor thing! Where could he even think about it! If only he was allowed to live in the reeds and drink marsh water, he did not dream of more.

So he sat in the swamp for two days. On the third day, two wild ganders flew there. They had recently learned to fly and therefore were very proud.

- Listen, buddy! they said. “You are so wonderful that it’s fun to look at you. Do you want to be friends with us? We are free birds - wherever we want, we fly there. There is also a swamp nearby, where pretty little wild geese-young ladies live. They know how to say: “Rap! Rap! You are so funny that, what good, you will be a great success with them.

Pif! Puff! suddenly resounded over the swamp, and both ganders fell dead into the reeds, and the water turned red with blood.

Pif! Puff! - came again, and a whole flock of wild geese rose above the swamp. Shot after shot rang out. Hunters surrounded the swamp on all sides; some of them climbed trees and fired from above. Blue smoke clouded the tops of the trees and drifted over the water. Hunting dogs roamed the swamp. All that was heard was: slap-slap! And the reeds swayed from side to side. The poor duckling was neither alive nor dead from fear. He was about to hide his head under his wing, when suddenly a hunting dog with a protruding tongue and sparkling evil eyes appeared right in front of him. She looked at the duckling, showed her sharp teeth and - slap-slap! - ran further.

“It seems that it has passed,” the duckling thought and took a breath. “It seems that I am so ugly that even a dog is disgusted to eat me!”

And he hid in the reeds. And over his head now and then shots whistled, shots rang out.

The firing subsided only in the evening, but the duckling was still afraid to move for a long time.

Several hours passed. Finally, he dared to get up, looked around cautiously, and began to run further through the fields and meadows.

There was such a strong headwind that the duckling could barely move its paws.

By nightfall, he reached a small wretched hut. The hut was so dilapidated that it was ready to fall, but did not know which side, and therefore held on.

The wind picked up the duckling in such a way that he had to cling to the ground itself so that it would not be blown away.

Fortunately, he noticed that the door of the hut had jumped off one hinge and was so warped that it was easy to get inside through the crack. And the duckling made his way.

An old woman lived in a hut with her chicken and cat. She called the cat Sonny; he knew how to arch his back, purr, and even throw sparks, but for this it was necessary to stroke him the wrong way. The chicken had small short legs, and therefore it was called the Short Leg. She diligently laid eggs, and the old woman loved her like a daughter.

In the morning we noticed the duckling. The cat began to purr and the chicken began to cackle.

- What is there? the old woman asked. She looked around and saw a duckling in the corner, but blindly mistook it for a fat duck that had strayed from home.

- What a find! said the old woman. - Now I will have duck eggs, if only it is not a drake. And she decided to keep the homeless bird at home. But three weeks passed, and there were still no eggs. The cat was the real master of the house, and the chicken was the mistress. Both of them always said: “We and the whole world!” They considered themselves half of the world, and, moreover, the better half. True, it seemed to the duckling that one could have a different opinion on this matter. But the chicken wouldn't let that happen.

- Can you lay eggs? she asked the duckling.

- So keep your tongue on a leash! And the cat asked:

- Can you arch your back, throw sparks and purr?

“So don’t stick around with your opinion when smart people are talking!”

And the duckling sat in the corner, ruffled.

One day the door opened wide, and a stream of fresh air and a bright beam of sunlight burst into the room. The duckling was so drawn to freedom, he wanted to swim so much that he could not resist and told the chicken about it.

- Well, what else did you think of? The chicken pounced on him. - You are idle, so all nonsense climbs into your head! Bring some eggs or purr, the nonsense will pass!

Oh, it's so nice to swim! said the duckling. “It’s such a pleasure to dive head first into the very depths!”

- That's such a pleasure! said the hen. - You're completely crazy! Ask the cat - he is more reasonable than anyone I know - does he like to swim and dive? I'm not talking about myself. Ask, finally, our old lady, there is probably no one smarter than her in the world! She will tell you if she likes to dive head first into the very depths!

- You do not understand me! said the duckling.

“If we don’t understand, then who will understand you!” You obviously want to be smarter than the cat and our lady, not to mention me! Don't be foolish and be grateful for everything that has been done for you! They sheltered you, warmed you up, you ended up in a society in which you can learn something. But you're an empty head, and it's not worth talking to you. Believe me! I wish you well, therefore I scold you. This is what true friends always do. Try to lay eggs or learn to purr and throw sparks!

“I think it’s better for me to get out of here wherever my eyes look!” said the duckling.

- Well, go ahead! the chicken replied.

And the duckling is gone. He lived on the lake, swam and dived upside down, but everyone around him still laughed at him and called him ugly and ugly.

Meanwhile, autumn has come. The leaves on the trees turned yellow and turned brown. They just fell from the branches, and the wind picked them up and circled through the air. It got very cold. Heavy clouds sowed hail and snow on the ground. Even the raven, sitting on the fence, croaked from the cold at the top of his lungs. Brr! You will freeze at the mere thought of such a cold!

It was bad for the poor duckling.

Once in the evening, when the sun was still shining in the sky, a whole flock of wonderful, large birds rose from behind the forest. The duckling has never seen such beautiful birds - all white as snow, with long flexible necks ...

They were swans.

Their cry was like the sound of a trumpet. They spread their wide, mighty wings and flew from the cold meadows to the warm lands, beyond the blue seas ... Now they rose high, high, and the poor duckling kept looking after them, and some kind of incomprehensible anxiety seized him. He spun in the water like a top, stretched out his neck and also screamed, but so loudly and strangely that he himself was frightened. He could not take his eyes off these beautiful birds, and when they completely disappeared from sight, he dived to the very bottom, then swam out again, and yet for a long time he could not come to his senses. The duckling did not know the names of these birds, did not know where they fly, but fell in love with them. How I have never loved anyone in the world before. He did not envy their beauty. It never occurred to him that he could be as handsome as them.

He was glad, radechonek, if at least the ducks did not push him away from themselves. Poor ugly duckling!

Winter has come cold, very cold. The duckling had to swim in the lake without rest to keep the water from freezing completely, but every night the hole in which he swam became smaller and smaller. The frost was such that even the ice crackled. The duckling tirelessly worked with its paws. In the end, he was completely exhausted, stretched out and froze to ice.

Early in the morning a peasant passed by. He saw a duckling frozen to the ice, broke the ice with his wooden shoe and carried the half-dead bird home to his wife.

The duckling was warmed up.

The children decided to play with him, but it seemed to the duckling that they wanted to offend him. He shied away from fear into a corner and fell right into the sump of milk. Milk flowed across the floor. The hostess screamed and clasped her hands, and the duckling darted around the room, flew into a tub of oil, and from there into a barrel of flour. It's easy to imagine what he looked like!

The mistress scolded the duckling and chased after him with coal tongs, the children ran, knocking each other down, laughing and squealing. It's good that the door was open - the duckling ran out, spreading its wings, rushed into the bushes, right on the freshly fallen snow, and for a long, long time lay there almost unconscious.

It would be too sad to talk about all the troubles and misfortunes of the ugly duckling in this harsh winter.

Finally, the sun again warmed the earth with its warm rays. The larks rang in the fields. Spring has returned!

The duckling got out of the reeds, where he hid all winter, flapped his wings and flew. His wings were now much stronger than before, they made a noise and lifted him off the ground. He did not have time to come to his senses, as he had already flown to a large garden. The apple trees were all in bloom, the fragrant lilacs bent their long green branches over the winding canal. Oh, how good it was here, how it smelled of spring!

And suddenly three wonderful white swans floated out of the thicket of reeds. They swam so lightly and smoothly, as if they were sliding on the water. The duckling recognized these beautiful birds, and some incomprehensible sadness seized him.

“I will fly to them, to these majestic birds. They will probably peck me to death because I, so ugly, dared to approach them. But still! It is better to die from their blows than to endure the plucking of ducks and chickens, the kicks of a poultry keeper, and to endure cold and hunger in winter!

And he sank into the water and swam towards the beautiful swans, and the swans, seeing him, waved their wings and swam straight towards him.

- Kill me! said the ugly duckling, lowering his head low.

And suddenly, in a clear, like a mirror, water, he saw his own reflection. He was no longer an ugly dark gray duck, but a beautiful white swan!

Now the duckling was even glad that he had endured so much grief and trouble. He endured a lot and therefore could better appreciate his happiness. And big swans swam around and stroked him with their beaks.

At this time, the children ran into the garden. They began to throw pieces of bread and grain to the swans, and the youngest of them screamed.

Ugly duck

It was good for the city! It was summer. The rye was already golden in the fields, the oats were turning green, the hay was swept into haystacks;

a long-legged stork paced the green meadow and chatted in Egyptian, the language he had learned from his mother. Behind the fields and meadows, a large forest darkened, and deep blue lakes hid in the forest. Yes, it was good for the city! The sun illuminated the old manor, surrounded by deep ditches with water. The whole earth - from the walls of the house to the water itself - was overgrown with burdock, so high that small children could stand under its largest leaves to their full height.

In the thicket of burdock it was as deaf and wild as in a dense forest, and there a duck was sitting on its eggs. She had been sitting for a long time, and she was tired of this occupation. Moreover, she was rarely visited - other ducks liked to swim in the grooves more than to sit in the burdock and quack with her.

Finally, the eggshells crackled.

The ducklings stirred, clattered their beaks and stuck out their heads.

Pip, pip! they said.

Crack, crack! - answered the duck. - Hurry up!

The ducklings somehow got out of the shell and began to look around, looking at the green leaves of burdock. The mother did not interfere with them - the green color is good for the eyes.

Ah, how great is the world! - said the ducklings. Still would! Now they were much more spacious than in the shell.

Don't you think that the whole world is here? - said the mother. - What is there! It stretches far, far away, over there, beyond the garden, beyond the field ... But, to tell the truth, I have never been there in my life! .. Well, has everyone got out yet? Jonah got to her feet. - Oh no, that's not all... The biggest egg is intact! When will this end! I'm about to lose my patience.

And she sat down again.

Well how are you? - asked the old duck, sticking its head into the thicket of burdock.

Why, I can’t cope with one egg, ”said the young duck. - I sit, I sit, but it still does not burst. But look at those babies that have already hatched. Just beautiful! All as one - in the father! And he, unfit, did not even visit me even once!

Wait, show me first that egg that does not burst, said the old duck. - Isn't it turkey, what good? Well, yes, of course! .. That's exactly the same way I was once tricked. And how much trouble I had later with these turkey poults! You won’t believe it: they are so afraid of water that you can’t drive them into a ditch. Already I hissed, and quacked, and simply pushed them into the water - they don’t go, and that’s all. Let me take another look. Well, it is! Turkey! Throw him away and go teach your kids to swim!

No, I, perhaps, will sit, - said the young duck. I've endured so much that I can endure a little more.

Well, sit! - said the old duck and left. And finally, the big egg cracked.

Pip! Pip! - squeaked the chick and fell out of the shell.

But how big and ugly he was! The duck looked at him from all sides and fluttered its wings.

Terrible freak! - she said. - And not at all like the others! Is it really a turkey? Well, yes, he will visit me in the water, even if I had to push him there by force!

The next day the weather was wonderful, the green burdock was flooded with sun.

The duck with all his family went to the ditch. Bultykh! - and she found herself in the water.

Quack-quack! Behind me! Alive! she called, and the ducklings, one by one, also flopped into the water.

At first the water covered them completely, but they immediately surfaced and swam well forward. Paws they have earned, and earned. Even the ugly gray duckling kept up with the others.

What kind of Indian is this? - said the duck. - Look how nicely he rows with his paws! And how straight it stays! No, this is my own son. Yes, he is not so bad at all, if you take a good look at him. Well, live, live for me! I will now introduce you to society - we will go to the poultry yard. Just stay close to me so that someone does not step on you, but watch out for cats!

Soon the duck with all its brood reached the poultry yard. Oh my God! What was that noise! Two families of ducks fought over an eel head. And in the end, this head went to the cat.

This is how it always happens in life! - said the duck and licked her beak with her tongue - she herself was not averse to tasting the eel head. - Well, well, move your paws! she commanded, turning to the ducklings. - Grunt and bow to that old duck! She is the best here. She's Spanish and that's why she's so fat. See, she has a red patch on her paw! How beautiful! This is the highest distinction a duck can receive. This means that they do not want to lose it - both people and animals immediately recognize it by this shred. Well, live! Don't keep your paws together! A well-bred duckling should turn its paws outward. Like this! See. Now tilt your heads and say, "Quack!"

The ducks did just that.

But other ducks looked at them and spoke loudly:

Well, here's another whole bunch! Without them, there weren't enough of us! And one is ugly! We will never tolerate this!

And immediately one duck flew up and pecked at his neck.

Leave it! said the mother duck. "He didn't do anything to you!"

Let's assume it is. But he's kind of big and awkward! - the angry duck hissed. - Do not interfere with his a little lesson.

And a noble duck with a red patch on its paw said:

You have nice kids! Everyone is very, very nice, except for one, perhaps ... The poor fellow did not succeed! It would be nice to change it.

It's impossible, your grace! - answered the mother duck. - He's not handsome - it's true, but he has a good heart. And he swims no worse, I even dare to say - better than others. I think over time it will even out and become smaller. He had lain in the egg for too long and therefore outgrew a little. - And she smoothed the feathers on his back with her beak. “Besides, he’s a drake, and a drake doesn’t really need beauty. I think he will grow up strong and make his way into life.

The rest of the ducklings are very, very cute! - said the noble duck. - Well, make yourself at home, and if you find an eel head, you can bring it to me.

And now the ducklings began to behave like at home. Only the poor duckling, which hatched later than the others and was so ugly, no one gave a pass. He was pecked, pushed and teased not only by ducks, but even by chickens.

Too big! they said.

And the Indian rooster, who was born with spurs on his feet and therefore imagined himself almost an emperor, pouted and, like a ship in full sail, flew right up to the duckling, looked at him and babbled angrily; his comb was so full of blood. The poor duckling simply did not know what to do, where to go. And he should have been born so ugly that the whole poultry yard laughs at him!

G. H. Andersen "The Ugly Duckling!"

ugly duck

It was good for the city!
It was summer. The rye turned golden, the oats turned green, the hay was swept into haystacks; a long-legged stork paced the green meadow and chatted in Egyptian, the language he had learned from his mother.
Behind the fields and meadows stretched large forests, and in the forests there were deep lakes. Yes, it was good for the city!
Directly in the sun lay an old manor, surrounded by deep ditches with water; burdock grew from the walls of the house to the very water, so big that little children could stand upright under the largest leaves. In the thicket of burdock it was deaf and wild, as in the densest forest, and there a duck was sitting on its eggs.
She had to take out ducklings, and she was rather tired of it, because she had been sitting for a long time and was rarely visited - other ducks liked to swim in the ditches rather than sit in mugs and quack with her. Finally, the eggshells crackled.
- Pip! Pip! - squeaked inside. All the egg yolks came to life and stuck out their heads.
- Quack! Quack! - said the duck. The ducklings quickly climbed out of the shell and began to look around under the green leaves of burdock; mother did not interfere with them - the green color is good for the eyes.
- Oh, how big the world is! - said the ducklings.
Still would! It was much more spacious here than in the shell.
"Don't you think the whole world is here?" - said the mother. - What is there! It stretches far, far away, there, behind the garden, in the field, but I have never been there in my life! .. Well, are you all here?
And she got up.
- Oh no, not all. The biggest egg is intact! When will this end! I'm about to lose my patience.
And she sat down again.
- Well how are you? - asked the old duck, who came to visit her.
- Yes, I can’t manage with one egg, - said the young duck. - Everything does not burst. But look at the little ones! Just beautiful! All, as one, - in the father.
“Come on, show me an egg that doesn’t burst,” said the old duck. - It must be a turkey egg. That's exactly the same way I was once carried out. Well, I had trouble with these turkeys, I tell you! Couldn't get them into the water. I already quacked and pushed - they don’t go, and that’s all! Come on, show me the egg. This is true! Turkey! Drop it and go teach the kids to swim!
- I'll sit still! - said the young duck. - I sat so much that I can sit still.
- As you wish! - said the old duck and left.
Finally the big egg burst.

- Pip! Pip! - squeaked the chick and fell out of the egg. But how big and ugly he was!
The duck looked at him.
- Terribly big! - she said. - And not at all like the others! Isn't that a turkey, really? Well, yes, he will visit me in the water, yes, I will drive him by force!
The next day the weather was wonderful, the green burdock was flooded with sun. The duck with all his family went to the ditch. Bultykh! - and she found herself in the water.
- Quack! Quack! she called, and the ducklings, one by one, also floundered into the water. At first the water covered them completely, but they immediately surfaced and swam well forward.
Their paws worked like that, and even the ugly gray duck kept up with the others.
- What kind of turkey is this? - said the duck. - Look how nicely he rows with his paws! And how straight it stays! No, he is mine, my dear... Yes, he is not bad at all, as you look at him well. Well, live, live for me! Now I will introduce you to society, I will introduce you to the poultry yard. Just stay close to me so that someone does not step on you, but watch out for cats!
Soon we got to the poultry yard. Fathers! What was that noise!
Two families of ducks fought over one head of eel, and ended up with the cat getting the head.
- You see how it happens in the world! - said the duck and licked her beak with her tongue - she herself was not averse to tasting the eel head.
- Well, well, move your paws! she said to the ducklings. - Grunt and bow to that old duck! She is the best here. She's Spanish and that's why she's so fat. You see, she has a red flap on her paw. How beautiful! This is the highest distinction a duck can receive. This means that they do not want to lose her - both people and animals recognize her by this flap. Well, live! Don't keep your paws inside! A well-bred duckling should turn its paws outward, like father and mother. Like this! Look! Now tilt your head and say, "Quack!"
And so they did. But the other ducks looked at them and said loudly:
- Nu here is, even a whole mob! Like there weren't enough of us? And what an ugly one! We won't tolerate him!
And immediately one duck flew up and pecked him on the back of the head.
- Leave him! said the mother duck. "He didn't do anything to you!"
- Suppose, but he is so big and strange! - answered a strange duck. - He needs to be asked well.
- Nice kids you have! - said the old duck with a red flap on its paw. - All the nice ones, here's just one... This one didn't work out! It would be nice to change it!
- It's impossible, your grace! - answered the mother duck. He is not handsome, but he has a good heart. And he swims no worse, I even dare to say - better than others. I think over time it will even out and become smaller. He had lain in the egg for too long, which is why he did not quite succeed.
And she scratched the back of his head and stroked his feathers.
“Besides, he’s a drake, and a drake doesn’t really need beauty. I think he will get stronger and make his way.
- The rest of the ducklings are very, very cute! said the old duck. - Well, make yourself at home, and if you find an eel head, you can bring it to me.
Here are the ducklings and settled at home. Only the poor duckling, which hatched later than everyone else and was so ugly, was pecked, pushed and teased by absolutely everyone - both ducks and chickens.
- Too big! they said.
And the Indian rooster, who was born with spurs on his feet and therefore imagined himself an emperor, pouted and, like a ship in full sail, flew up to the duckling, looked at him and clapped angrily; his comb was so full of blood.
The poor duckling simply did not know what to do, where to go. And he should have been born so ugly that the whole poultry yard laughs at him! ..
So the first day passed, and then it got even worse. Everyone drove the poor duckling away, even the brothers and sisters angrily said to him:
- If only the cat would drag you away, you obnoxious freak!
And the mother added:
Eyes would not look at you!
Ducks nibbled at him, chickens pecked at him, and the girl who gave the birds food pushed him with her foot.
The duckling could not stand it, ran across the yard - and through the fence! Small birds frightened fluttered out of the bushes.
"That's because I'm so ugly!" - thought the duckling, closed his eyes and set off further.
He ran and ran until he found himself in a swamp where wild ducks lived. Tired and sad, he lay there all night.
In the morning, wild ducks rose from their nests and saw a new comrade.
- What kind of bird is this? they asked.
The duckling turned and bowed in all directions as best he could.
- Well, you're a monster! said the wild ducks. - However, we do not care, just do not think to intermarry with us.
Poor thing! Where was he to think about it! If only they would let him sit in the reeds and drink marsh water.
He spent two days in the swamp. On the third day, two wild ganders appeared. They had only recently hatched from their eggs and were therefore very proud.
- Listen, buddy! they said. - You are such a freak that we really like you! Do you want to fly with us and be a free bird? There is another swamp nearby, where pretty wild young geese live. They know how to say: "Ha-ha-ha!" You are such a freak that, what good, you will be successful with them.
Pif! Puff! - there was suddenly heard over the swamp, and both ganders fell dead into the reeds; the water was stained with their blood.
Pif! Puff! - it was heard again, and a whole flock of wild geese rose from the reeds. The firing went. Hunters surrounded the swamp on all sides; some even settled in the branches of trees hanging over the swamp.
Blue smoke clouded the trees and drifted over the water. Hunting dogs ran through the swamp - slap! slap! The reeds and reeds swayed from side to side.
The poor duckling was neither alive nor dead from fear. He was about to hide his head under his wing, when suddenly a hunting dog with a protruding tongue and sparkling evil eyes appeared right in front of him.
She stuck her mouth to the duckling, bared her sharp teeth and - slap! Slap! - ran further.
“I didn’t touch it,” the duckling thought and took a breath. “It’s obvious that I’m so ugly that it’s disgusting even for a dog to bite me!”
And he hid in the reeds.
Over his head now and then shots whistled, shots rang out. The firing subsided only in the evening, but the duckling was still afraid to move for a long time.
Only a few hours later he dared to get up, looked around and started running further through the fields and meadows. The wind was so strong that the duckling could hardly move.
By nightfall he ran to the poor hut. The hut was so dilapidated that it was ready to fall, but did not know which side, and therefore held on.
The wind picked up the duckling - it was necessary to rest against the ground with its tail. And the wind got stronger.
Then the duckling noticed that the door of the hut had jumped off one hinge and was hanging so crookedly that it was possible to freely slip through the crack into the hut. And so he did.
An old woman lived in a hut with a cat and a chicken. She called the cat son; he knew how to arch his back, purr, and even let off sparks if you stroke him the wrong way.
The chicken had small, short legs, which is why it was called Short-legged; she diligently laid eggs, and the old woman loved her like a daughter.
In the morning, someone else's duckling was noticed. The cat purred, the chicken clucked.
- What's there? - asked the old woman, looked around and noticed a duckling, but due to her blindness she mistook him for a fat duck that had strayed from home.
- What a find! - said the old woman. - Now I will have duck eggs, if only it is not a drake. Well, let's see, let's try!
And the duckling was accepted for testing. But three weeks passed, and there were still no eggs.
The cat was the real master of the house, and the chicken was the mistress, and both always said:
- We and the whole world!
They considered themselves half of the world, and, moreover, the better half.
True, the duckling believed that one could have a different opinion on this matter. But the chicken didn't.
- Can you lay eggs? she asked the duckling.
- No.
- So keep your tongue on a leash!
And the cat asked:
- Can you arch your back, purr and sparkle?
- No.
- So don't poke your nose with your opinion when smart people are talking!
And the duckling was sitting in the corner ruffled.
Suddenly he remembered the fresh air and the sun, he terribly wanted to swim. He could not stand it and told the chicken about it.
- What's wrong with you? she asked. - You're idle, here's a whim in your head and climbs! Bring some eggs or purr, the nonsense will pass!
- Oh, it's so nice to swim! - said the duckling. - It's such a pleasure to dive headfirst into the very depths!
- That's so fun! - said the chicken. - You're completely crazy! Ask the cat - he is smarter than anyone I know - if he likes to swim and dive. I'm not talking about myself! Finally, ask our old lady, there is no one smarter than her in the world! Do you think she wants to swim or dive?
“You don’t understand me,” said the duckling.
- If we do not understand, then who will understand you! Do you want to be smarter than the cat and the mistress, not to mention me? Don't be foolish, but be grateful for everything that has been done for you! They sheltered you, warmed you up, you ended up in a society in which you can learn something. But you're an empty head, and it's not worth talking to you. Believe me! I wish you well, therefore I scold you. This is how true friends are always known. Try to lay eggs or learn to purr and sparkle!
“I think it’s better for me to get out of here wherever my eyes look,” said the duckling.
- Well, go ahead! - answered the chicken.
And the duckling is gone. He swam and dived, but all the animals still despised him for his ugliness.
Autumn has come. The leaves on the trees turned yellow and turned brown; the wind picked them up and whirled them through the air. It got very cold.
Heavy clouds poured hail and snow on the ground, and a raven sat on the fence and croaked from the cold at the top of his lungs. Brr! You will freeze at the mere thought of such a cold!
It was bad for the poor duckling. Once, in the evening, when the sun was still shining in the sky, a whole flock of beautiful large birds rose from the bushes, the duckling had never seen such beautiful ones: all white as snow, with long, flexible necks.
They were swans.
Having uttered a strange cry, they fluttered their magnificent large wings and flew from the cold meadows to the warm lands, beyond the blue sea. The swans rose high, high, and the poor duckling was seized with an incomprehensible alarm.
He twirled like a top in the water, stretched out his neck and also screamed, but so loudly and strangely that he himself was frightened. Ah, he could not take his eyes off these beautiful happy birds, and when they were completely out of sight, he dived to the very bottom, emerged and seemed to be out of his mind. The duckling did not know the names of these birds, where they fly, but he fell in love with them, just as he had not loved anyone in the world until now.
He did not envy their beauty; it never occurred to him that he could be as handsome as them. He would have been glad, radechonek, if at least the ducks had not repelled him from themselves.
Poor ugly duckling!
Winter has come cold, very cold. The duckling had to swim without rest to keep the water from freezing completely, but every night the hole in which he swam became smaller and smaller.
It was so cold that even the ice crackled. The duckling worked tirelessly with its paws, but in the end it was completely exhausted, froze and froze all over.
Early in the morning a peasant passed by. He saw a duckling, broke the ice with his wooden shoes, and carried the half-dead bird home to his wife.
The duckling was warmed up.
But then the children decided to play with him, and it seemed to him that they wanted to offend him. The duckling shied away from fear and landed right in the milk pan.
The milk spilled. The hostess screamed and waved her arms, and meanwhile the duckling flew into a tub of oil, and from there into a barrel of flour. Father, what did he look like!
The hostess screamed and chased him with coal tongs, the children ran, knocking each other down, laughing and squealing.
It's good, the door was open - the duckling jumped out, rushed into the bushes, right on the freshly fallen snow, and for a long, long time lay there almost unconscious.
It would be too sad to describe all the troubles and misfortunes of the duckling during this harsh winter. When the sun again warmed the earth with its warm rays, he lay in the swamp, among the reeds.
The larks sang. Spring came! The duckling flapped its wings and flew away. Now the wind hummed in his wings, and they were much stronger than before.
Before he had time to come to his senses, he found himself in a large garden. The apple trees were in bloom; fragrant lilacs bent their long green branches over the winding canal.
Oh, how good it was here, how it smelled of spring!
And suddenly three wonderful white swans floated out of the thicket of reeds. They swam so lightly and smoothly, as if they were sliding on the water.
The duckling recognized the beautiful birds, and some incomprehensible sadness seized him.
- I'll fly to them, to these majestic birds. They will probably peck me to death because I, being so ugly, dared to approach them. But let! It is better to die from their blows than to endure the plucking of ducks and chickens, the kicks of the poultry keeper, and to endure cold and hunger in winter!
And he sank into the water and swam towards the beautiful swans, who, seeing him, also swam to him.
- Kill me! - said the poor thing and lowered his head low, expecting death, but what did he see in the water, clear as a mirror? Your own reflection.
But he was no longer an ugly dark gray duckling, but a swan. It doesn't matter to be born in a duck's nest if you hatched from a swan egg!
Now he was glad that he had endured so much grief and trouble - he could better appreciate his happiness and the splendor that surrounded him.
And big swans swam around and stroked him with their beaks.
Small children ran into the garden. They began to throw bread crumbs and grains to the swans, and the youngest shouted:
- A new one has arrived!
And everyone else got it:
- New, new!
The children clapped their hands and danced for joy, and then they ran after their father and mother and again began to throw crumbs of bread and cake into the water. Everyone said:
- The new swan is the best! He is so handsome and young!
And the old swans bowed their heads before him.
And he was completely embarrassed and hid his head under his wing, not knowing why.
He was very happy, but he was not at all proud - a good heart does not know pride; he remembered the time when everyone laughed at him and persecuted him. And now everyone says that he is the most beautiful among the beautiful birds.
The lilac bowed its fragrant branches into the water, the sun shone so warmly, so brightly...
And then his wings rustled, his slender neck straightened, and a jubilant cry escaped from his chest:
- No, I never dreamed of such happiness when I was still an ugly duckling!

It was good for the city! It was summer, the rye had already turned yellow, the oats were turning green, the hay was swept into haystacks; a long-legged stork walked across the green meadow and chatted in Egyptian - he learned this language from his mother. Behind the fields and meadows were large forests with deep lakes in the thicket. Yes, it was good for the city! Directly in the sun lay an old manor, surrounded by deep ditches with water; from the very building down to the water grew burdock, so big that little children could stand upright under the largest of its leaves. In the very thicket of the burdock it was as deaf and wild as in a dense forest, and there a duck was sitting on its eggs. She had been sitting for a long time, and she was rather tired of this sitting - she was rarely visited: other ducks liked to swim in the grooves more than to sit in the burdock and quack with her. Finally, the eggshells crackled.

Pi! Pi! - I heard from them, the egg yolks came to life and stuck their noses out of the shells.

Alive! Alive! - the duck quacked, and the ducklings hurried, somehow got out and began to look around, looking at the green leaves of burdock; mother did not disturb them - green light is good for the eyes.

How big is the world! - said the ducklings.

Still would! Now they had much more space than when they lay in their eggs.

Do you think that the whole world is here? - said the mother. - No! He goes far, far away, over there, beyond the garden, into the priest's field, but I have never been there in my life!.. Well, that's it, are you here? And she got up. - Oh, no, not all! The biggest egg is intact! Will this end soon! Right, I'm tired of it.

And she sat down again.

Well how are you? - the old duck looked at her.

Yes, there is one more egg left! - said the young duck. - I sit, I sit, but there is no sense! But look at the others! Just beautiful! They look awfully like their father! And he, unfit, did not visit me even once!

Wait a minute, I'll take a look at the egg! said the old duck. “Maybe it’s a turkey egg!” I got scammed too! Well, I toiled as I brought out the turkeys! They are passionately afraid of water; I already quacked, and called, and pushed them into the water - they don’t go, and that’s the end! Let me see the egg! Well, it is! Turkey! Throw him away and go, teach others to swim!

I'll sit still! - said the young duck. - I sat so much that you can sit and a little more.

As you wish! - said the old duck and left. Finally, the shell of the largest egg also crackled.

Pi! Pi! - and a huge ugly chick fell out of there. The duck looked at him.

Terribly big! - she said. - And not at all like the others! Is it a turkey? Well, yes, he will visit me in the water, even if I had to push him there by force!

The next day the weather was wonderful, the green burdock was all flooded with sun. The duck with all his family went to the ditch. Bultykh! - and the duck found itself in the water.

Behind me! Alive! she called the ducklings, and one by one they also flopped into the water.

At first, the water covered them with their heads, but then they surfaced and swam in such a way that it was nice. Their paws worked like that; the ugly gray duck kept up with the others.

What kind of Indian is this? - said the duck. - Look how nicely he paddles with his paws, how straight he holds himself! No, this is my own son! Yes, he is not at all bad, as you look at him well! Well, live, live, follow me! I will now introduce you to society: we will go to the poultry yard. But stay close to me so that no one steps on you, but watch out for cats!

Soon we got to the poultry yard. Fathers! What was the noise and din! Two families fought over one eel head, and in the end it went to the cat.

That's how things are going in the world! - said the duck and licked her beak with her tongue: she also wanted to taste the eel head. - Well, well, move your paws! she said to the ducklings. - Grunt and bow to that old duck! She is the best here! She's Spanish and that's why she's so fat. See, she has a red patch on her paw? How beautiful! This is the highest distinction that a duck can receive. People make it clear that they don't want to lose her; both people and animals recognize her by this patch. Well, live! Don't keep your paws together! A well-bred duckling should keep its paws apart and turn them outward, like a father and mother! Like this! Bow now and quack!

They did so, but the other ducks looked at them and said loudly:

Well, here's another whole bunch! There were just too few of us! And what an ugly one! We won't tolerate him!

And immediately one duck jumped up and pecked at his neck.

Leave it! said the mother duck. He didn't do anything to you!

Suppose, but he is so big and strange! - answered the bully. - He needs to be asked well!

You have nice kids! - said the old duck with a red patch on its paw. - Everyone is very nice, except for one ... This one failed! It would be nice to change it!

No way, your grace! - answered the mother duck. - He is not handsome, but he has a good heart, and he swims as well, I even dare to say, better than others. I think that he will grow up, get prettier or become smaller over time. He stale in the egg, and therefore not entirely successful. - And she ran her nose over the feathers of a large duckling. - In addition, he is a drake, and he does not need beauty so much. I think he will mature and make his way!

The rest of the ducklings are very, very cute! said the old duck. - Well, make yourself at home, and if you find an eel head, you can bring it to me.

So they began to behave like at home. Only the poor duckling, which hatched later than everyone else and was so ugly, was pecked, pushed and showered with ridicule by absolutely everyone - both ducks and chickens.

He's too big! - everyone said, and the turkey, who was born with spurs on his legs and therefore imagined himself an emperor, pouted and, like a ship in full sail, flew up to the duckling, looked at him and murmured angrily; his comb was so full of blood. The poor duckling simply did not know what to do, how to be. And he should have been born such an ugly laughingstock for the entire poultry yard!

So the first day passed, then it got even worse. Everyone drove the poor thing away, even his brothers and sisters angrily told him: “If only the cat would drag you away, you unbearable freak!” - and the mother added: "My eyes would not have seen you!" The ducks pecked him, the chickens nibbled, and the girl who gave the birds food pushed him with her foot.

The duckling could not stand it, ran across the yard and - through the fence! Small birds frightened fluttered out of the bushes.

"They were afraid of me - I'm so ugly!" - thought the duckling and set off with his eyes closed, until he found himself in a swamp where wild ducks lived. Tired and sad, he sat there all night.

In the morning the ducks flew out of their nests and saw a new comrade.

Who are you? - they asked, and the duckling turned around, bowing in all directions, as best he could.

You are preposterous! said the wild ducks. “But we don’t care about that, just don’t try to intermarry with us!”

Poor thing! Where could he even think about it! If only they let him sit here in the reeds and drink marsh water.

He spent two days in the swamp, on the third two wild ganders appeared. They had recently hatched from eggs and therefore acted with great force.

Listen, buddy! they said. - You are such a freak that we really like you! Do you want to roam with us and be a free bird? Not far from here, in another swamp, live pretty wild young geese. They know how to say "rap, rap!" You are such a freak that - what good - you will have great success with them!

"Pif! bang! - there was suddenly heard over the swamp, and both ganders fell dead into the reeds: the water was stained with blood. "Pif! bang! - it was heard again, and a whole flock of wild geese rose from the reeds. The firing went. Hunters surrounded the swamp on all sides; some of them sat in the branches of trees hanging over the swamp. Blue smoke clouded the trees and drifted over the water. Hunting dogs paddled through the swamp; the reeds swayed from side to side. The poor duckling was neither alive nor dead from fear and only wanted to hide his head under his wing, as you looked - in front of him was a hunting dog with a protruding tongue and sparkling evil eyes. She brought her mouth close to the duckling, bared her sharp teeth and - slap, slap - ran on.

God bless! - the duckling took a breath. - God bless! I'm so ugly that even a dog doesn't want to bite me!

And he hid in the reeds; over his head now and then pellets flew, shots rang out.

The firing subsided only in the evening, but the duckling was still afraid to move for a long time. A few more hours passed before he dared to get up, look around and start running further through the fields and meadows. The wind was so strong that the duckling could hardly move.

By nightfall he had reached the poor hut. The hut was already so dilapidated that it was ready to fall, but did not know on which side, that's why it kept on. The wind picked up the duckling - it was necessary to rest against the ground with its tail!

The wind, however, grew stronger; what was the duck to do? Fortunately, he noticed that the door of the hut had jumped off one hinge and was hanging quite crookedly: it was possible to freely slip through this gap into the hut. And so he did.

An old woman lived in a hut with a cat and a chicken. She called the cat son; he knew how to arch his back, purr, and even emit sparks if he was stroked the wrong way. The chicken had small, short legs, and they called her Short Leg; she diligently laid eggs, and the old woman loved her like a daughter.

In the morning, the stranger was noticed: the cat began to purr, and the chicken to cluck.

What's there? - asked the old woman, looked around and noticed a duckling, but due to her blindness she mistook him for a fat duck that had strayed from home.

What a find! - said the old woman. - Now I will have duck eggs, if only it is not a drake. Well, let's see, let's try!

And the duckling was accepted for testing, but three weeks passed, and there were still no eggs. The cat was the master of the house, and the hen was the mistress, and both always said: “We and the world!” They considered themselves half of the whole world, moreover, its better half. It seemed to the duckling that it was possible to have a different opinion on this matter. The chicken, however, did not tolerate this.

Can you lay eggs? she asked the duckling.

So keep your tongue on a leash!

And the cat asked:

Can you arch your back, purr and emit sparks?

So don't stick around with your opinion when smart people are talking!

And the duckling sat in the corner, ruffled. Suddenly he remembered the fresh air and the sun, and he had a terrible desire to swim. He could not stand it and told the chicken about it.

What's wrong with you?! she asked. - You're idle, here's a whim in your head and climbs! Bring some eggs or purr - nonsense will pass!

Oh, it's so nice to swim on the water! - said the duckling. - And what a pleasure to dive into the very depths with your head!

Good enjoyment! - said the chicken. - You're completely crazy! Ask a cat - he's smarter than anyone I know - if he likes to swim or dive! I'm not talking about myself! Ask, finally, our old mistress: there is no one smarter than her in the world! Do you think she wants to swim or dive with her head?

You do not understand me! - said the duckling.

If we do not understand, then who will understand you! Well, you want to be smarter than the cat and the mistress, not to mention me? Don't be a fool, but better thank the Creator for everything that has been done for you! They sheltered you, warmed you up, you are surrounded by such a society in which you can learn something, but you are an empty head, and it’s not worth talking to you! Believe me! I wish you well, therefore I scold you: true friends are always recognized by this! Try to lay eggs, or learn to purr and sparkle!

I think I'd better get out of here wherever my eyes look! - said the duckling.

And with God! - answered the chicken.

And the duckling left, swam and dived with his head, but all the animals still despised him for his disgrace.

Autumn has come; the leaves on the trees turned yellow and turned brown; the wind picked them up and whirled them through the air; above, in the sky, it became so cold that heavy clouds sowed hail and snow, and a raven sat on the fence and croaked from the cold at the top of his lungs. Brr! You will freeze at the mere thought of such a cold! It was bad for the poor duckling.

One evening, when the sun was still shining so gloriously in the sky, a whole flock of wonderful large birds rose from behind the bushes; the duckling had never seen such beauties: they were all white as snow, with long, flexible necks! Those were swans. They let out a strange cry, fluttered their magnificent large wings and flew from the cold meadows to warm lands, across the blue sea. They rose high, high, and some strange excitement seized the poor duckling. He twirled in the water like a top, stretched out his neck and also uttered such a loud and strange cry that he himself was frightened. Wonderful birds did not go out of his head, and when they completely disappeared from sight, he dived to the very bottom, emerged again and was as if beside himself. The duckling did not know the names of these birds, where they flew, but he fell in love with them, as he had not loved anyone until now. He did not envy their beauty: it could not even enter his head to wish to resemble them; he would also be glad that at least the ducks did not repel him from themselves. Poor ugly duckling!

And the winter was cold, very cold. The duckling had to swim on the water without rest in order to keep it from freezing completely, but every night the space free from ice became smaller and smaller. It was so cold that the ice crust cracked. The duckling tirelessly worked with its paws, but in the end it became exhausted, stopped and was completely frozen.

Early in the morning a peasant passed by, saw a frozen duckling, broke the ice with his wooden shoe and brought the bird home to his wife. The duckling was warmed up.

But then the children took it into their head to play with him, and he imagined that they wanted to offend him, and shied away from fear right into the milk pan - the milk spilled all over. The woman screamed and threw up her hands; meanwhile, the duckling flew into a tub of oil, and from there into a barrel of flour. Father, what was he like! The woman was yelling and chasing him with coal tongs, the children were running, knocking each other down, laughing and squealing. It's good that the door was open: the duck ran out, rushed into the bushes right on the freshly fallen snow, and for a long, long time lay there almost unconscious.

It would be too sad to describe all the misadventures of a duckling during a harsh winter. When the sun again warmed the earth with its warm rays, he lay in the swamp, among the reeds. The larks sang, the red spring came.

The duckling flapped its wings and flew; now his wings were noisy and much stronger than before. Before he had time to come to his senses, he found himself in a large garden. The apple trees were all in bloom, the fragrant lilacs bent their long green branches over the winding canal.

Oh, how good it was here, how it smelled of spring! Suddenly, three wonderful white swans floated out of the thicket of reeds. They swam so lightly and smoothly, as if they were sliding on the water. The duckling recognized the beautiful birds, and a strange sadness seized him.

“I will fly to these royal birds; they will probably kill me for my insolence, for the fact that I, so ugly, dared to approach them, but let! It is better to be killed by them than to endure the plucking of ducks and hens, the jolts of a poultry-keeper, and to endure cold and hunger in winter!

And he flew into the water and swam towards the handsome swans, who, seeing him, also rushed to him.

Kill me! - said the poor thing and lowered his head, expecting death, but what did he see in the water, clear as a mirror? His own reflection, but he was no longer an ugly dark gray bird, but a swan!

It doesn't matter to be born in a duck's nest if it hatched from a swan egg!

Now he was glad that he had endured so much grief and disaster: he could now better appreciate his happiness and all the splendor that surrounded him. Large swans swam around him and caressed him, stroking his feathers with their beaks.

Small children ran into the garden; they began to throw bread crumbs and grains to the swans, and the smallest of them shouted:

New, new!

And everyone else got it:

Yes, new, new! - clapped their hands and danced for joy; then they ran after their father and mother, and again threw crumbs of bread and cake into the water.

Everyone said that the new one is the prettiest of all. So young and adorable!

And the old swans bowed their heads before him.

And he was completely embarrassed and hid his head under his wing, not knowing why. He was too happy, but not at all proud: a good heart knows no pride, remembering the time when everyone despised and persecuted him. And now everyone says that he is the most beautiful among beautiful birds! The lilac bowed its fragrant branches into the water; the sun shone so gloriously... And then his wings rustled, his slender neck straightened, and a jubilant cry escaped from his chest:

No, I never dreamed of such happiness when I was still an ugly duckling!

Illustrations: Vilhelm Pedersen

It was good for the city! It was summer. The rye was already golden in the fields, the oats were turning green, the hay was swept into haystacks;

a long-legged stork paced the green meadow and chatted in Egyptian, the language he had learned from his mother. Behind the fields and meadows, a large forest darkened, and deep blue lakes hid in the forest. Yes, it was good for the city! The sun illuminated the old manor, surrounded by deep ditches with water. The whole earth - from the walls of the house to the water itself - was overgrown with burdock, so high that small children could stand under its largest leaves to their full height.

In the thicket of burdock it was as deaf and wild as in a dense forest, and there a duck was sitting on its eggs. She had been sitting for a long time, and she was tired of this occupation. Moreover, she was rarely visited - other ducks liked to swim in the grooves more than to sit in the burdock and quack with her.

Finally, the eggshells crackled.

The ducklings stirred, clattered their beaks and stuck out their heads.

Pip, pip! they said.

Crack, crack! - answered the duck. - Hurry up!

The ducklings somehow got out of the shell and began to look around, looking at the green leaves of burdock. The mother did not interfere with them - the green color is good for the eyes.

Ah, how great is the world! - said the ducklings. Still would! Now they were much more spacious than in the shell.

Don't you think that the whole world is here? - said the mother. - What is there! It stretches far, far away, over there, beyond the garden, beyond the field ... But, to tell the truth, I have never been there in my life! .. Well, has everyone got out yet? Jonah got to her feet. - Oh no, that's not all... The biggest egg is intact! When will this end! I'm about to lose my patience.

And she sat down again.

Well how are you? - asked the old duck, sticking its head into the thicket of burdock.

Why, I can’t cope with one egg, ”said the young duck. - I sit, I sit, but it still does not burst. But look at those babies that have already hatched. Just beautiful! All as one - in the father! And he, unfit, did not even visit me even once!

Wait, show me first that egg that does not burst, said the old duck. - Isn't it turkey, what good? Well, yes, of course! .. That's exactly the same way I was once tricked. And how much trouble I had later with these turkey poults! You won’t believe it: they are so afraid of water that you can’t drive them into a ditch. Already I hissed, and quacked, and simply pushed them into the water - they don’t go, and that’s all. Let me take another look. Well, it is! Turkey! Throw him away and go teach your kids to swim!

No, I, perhaps, will sit, - said the young duck. I've endured so much that I can endure a little more.

Well, sit! - said the old duck and left. And finally, the big egg cracked.

Pip! Pip! - squeaked the chick and fell out of the shell.

But how big and ugly he was! The duck looked at him from all sides and fluttered its wings.

Terrible freak! - she said. - And not at all like the others! Is it really a turkey? Well, yes, he will visit me in the water, even if I had to push him there by force!

The next day the weather was wonderful, the green burdock was flooded with sun.

The duck with all his family went to the ditch. Bultykh! - and she found herself in the water.

Quack-quack! Behind me! Alive! she called, and the ducklings, one by one, also flopped into the water.

At first the water covered them completely, but they immediately surfaced and swam well forward. Paws they have earned, and earned. Even the ugly gray duckling kept up with the others.

What kind of Indian is this? - said the duck. - Look how nicely he rows with his paws! And how straight it stays! No, this is my own son. Yes, he is not so bad at all, if you take a good look at him. Well, live, live for me! I will now introduce you to society - we will go to the poultry yard. Just stay close to me so that someone does not step on you, but watch out for cats!

Soon the duck with all its brood reached the poultry yard. Oh my God! What was that noise! Two families of ducks fought over an eel head. And in the end, this head went to the cat.

This is how it always happens in life! - said the duck and licked her beak with her tongue - she herself was not averse to tasting the eel head. - Well, well, move your paws! she commanded, turning to the ducklings. - Grunt and bow to that old duck! She is the best here. She's Spanish and that's why she's so fat. See, she has a red patch on her paw! How beautiful! This is the highest distinction a duck can receive. This means that they do not want to lose it - both people and animals immediately recognize it by this shred. Well, live! Don't keep your paws together! A well-bred duckling should turn its paws outward. Like this! See. Now tilt your heads and say, "Quack!"

The ducks did just that.

But other ducks looked at them and spoke loudly:

Well, here's another whole bunch! Without them, there weren't enough of us! And one is ugly! We will never tolerate this!

And immediately one duck flew up and pecked at his neck.

Leave it! said the mother duck. "He didn't do anything to you!"

Let's assume it is. But he's kind of big and awkward! - the angry duck hissed. - Do not interfere with his a little lesson.

And a noble duck with a red patch on its paw said:

You have nice kids! Everyone is very, very nice, except for one, perhaps ... The poor fellow did not succeed! It would be nice to change it.

It's impossible, your grace! - answered the mother duck. - He's not handsome - it's true, but he has a good heart. And he swims no worse, I even dare to say - better than others. I think over time it will even out and become smaller. He had lain in the egg for too long and therefore outgrew a little. - And she smoothed the feathers on his back with her beak. “Besides, he’s a drake, and a drake doesn’t really need beauty. I think he will grow up strong and make his way into life.

The rest of the ducklings are very, very cute! - said the noble duck. - Well, make yourself at home, and if you find an eel head, you can bring it to me.

And now the ducklings began to behave like at home. Only the poor duckling, which hatched later than the others and was so ugly, no one gave a pass. He was pecked, pushed and teased not only by ducks, but even by chickens.

Too big! they said.

And the Indian rooster, who was born with spurs on his feet and therefore imagined himself almost an emperor, pouted and, like a ship in full sail, flew right up to the duckling, looked at him and babbled angrily; his comb was so full of blood. The poor duckling simply did not know what to do, where to go. And he should have been born so ugly that the whole poultry yard laughs at him!

So the first day passed, and then it got even worse. Everyone drove the poor duckling away, even the brothers and sisters angrily told him: “If only the cat would drag you away, you obnoxious freak!” And the mother added: “My eyes would not look at you!” The ducks nibbled at him, the chickens pecked at him, and the girl who fed the birds pushed him away with her foot.

Finally, the duckling could not stand it. He ran across the yard and, spreading his clumsy wings, somehow rolled over the fence right into the thorny bushes.

The little birds sitting on the branches fluttered at once and scattered in different directions.

“It’s because I’m so ugly,” thought the duckling, and, closing his eyes, he rushed to run, not knowing where he was. He ran until then. until he found himself in a swamp where wild ducks lived.

Here he spent the whole night. The poor duckling was tired and very sad.