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 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 m