The Ugly Duckling

“[Well, how are you getting on]?” asked an old duck,(who paid her a visit). “[One egg is not hatched yet],” said the duck, “it will not break. But just look [at all the others], are they not the prettiest little ducklings (you ever saw)? They are the image (of their father), (who is so unkind, [he never comes [to see]]).”

“[Let me see the egg (that will not break)],” said the duck; “I have no doubt (it is a turkey’s egg). I was persuaded to hatch some once, and [after all my care and trouble (with the young ones)], they were afraid [of the water]. I quacked and clucked, but all [to no purpose]. I could not get them to venture in. Let me look [at the egg]. Yes, that is a turkey’s egg; take my advice, leave it [where it is] and teach the other children 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] and exclaimed, “[It is very large and not at all {like the others}. I wonder [if it really is a turkey]. We shall soon find it out, however [when 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 shone brightly [on the green burdock leaves], so the mother duck took her young brood down [to the water], and jumped in [with a splash]. “[Quack, quack],” cried she, and [one (after another)] the little ducklings jumped in. The water closed [over their heads], but they came up again [in an instant], and swam about quite prettily [with their legs paddling [under them] as easily [as possible]], and the ugly duckling was also [in the water] swimming [with them].

“[Oh],” said the mother, “that is not a turkey; how well he uses his legs, and how upright he holds himself! He is my own child, and he is not so very ugly [after all] [if you look [at him] properly]. Quack, quack! come [with me] now, I will take you [into grand society], and introduce you [to the farmyard], but you must keep close [to me] or you may be trodden upon; and, [above all], beware [of the cat].” 

 

[When they reached the farmyard], there was a great disturbance, two families were fighting [for an eel’s head], (which, [after all], was carried off [by the cat]). “[See, children, that is the way (of the world)],” said the mother duck, [whetting her beak], for she would have liked the eel’s head herself. “Come, now, use your legs, and let me see [how well you can behave].

You must bow your heads prettily [to that old duck] yonder; she is the highest born [of them all], and has Spanish blood, therefore, she is well off. Don’t you see [she has a red flag (tied to her leg)], [which is something very grand, and a great honor (for a duck)]; it shows [that everyone is anxious [not to lose her]], [as she can be recognized both [by man and beast]]. Come, now, don’t turn your toes, a well-bred duckling spreads his feet wide apart, just [like his 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, and said, “[Look, here comes another brood, [as if there were not enough (of us) already]! and what a queer looking object one (of them) is; we don’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 “and therefore he must be turned out.”

“[The others are very pretty children],” said the old duck, (with the rag (on her leg)), “all but that one; I wish [his mother could improve him [a little]].”

“[That is impossible, [your grace]],” replied the mother; “he is not pretty; but he has a very good disposition, and swims as well or even better [than the others]. I think [he will grow up pretty, and perhaps be smaller]; he has remained too long [in the egg], and therefore his figure is not properly formed;” and then she stroked his neck and smoothed the feathers, [saying, “[It is a drake, and therefore not {of so much consequence}. I think he will grow up strong, and able [to take care [of himself]]]].” “[The other ducklings are graceful enough],” said the old duck. “Now make yourself {at home}, and [if you can find an eel’s head], you can bring it [to me].”

And so they made themselves comfortable; but the poor duckling, (who had crept out [of his shell] last [of all], and looked so ugly, was bitten and pushed and made fun of, not only [by the ducks], but [by all the poultry]. “[He is too big],” they all said, and the turkey cock, (who had been born [into the world] [with spurs], and fancied himself really an emperor, puffed himself out [like a vessel (in full sail)], and flew [at the duckling], and became quite red [in the head] [with passion], so that the poor little thing did not know [where to go], and was quite miserable [because he was so ugly and laughed at [by the whole farmyard]].

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 and sisters were unkind [to him], and would say, “[Ah, you [ugly creature], I wish [the cat would get you]],” and his mother said [she wished [he had never been born]]. The ducks pecked him, the chickens beat him, and the girl (who fed the poultry) kicked him [with her feet]. So at last he ran away, [frightening the little birds (in the hedge) [as he flew [over the palings]]] 

 

“[They are afraid [of me] [because I am ugly]],” he said. So he closed his eyes, and flew still farther, [until he came out [on a large moor], (inhabited [by wild ducks]). Here he remained [the whole night], [feeling very tired and sorrowful].

[In the morning], [when the wild ducks rose [in the air]], they stared [at their new comrade]. “[What sort (of a duck) are you]?” they all said, [coming [round him]].

He bowed [to them], and was as polite [as he could be], but he did not reply [to their question]. “[You are exceedingly ugly],” said the wild ducks, “but that will not matter [if you do not want [to marry one (of our family)]].”

[Poor thing]! he had no thoughts (of marriage); all (he wanted) was permission (to lie [among the rushes], and drink some (of the water) [on the moor]). [After he had been [on the moor] two days], there came two wild geese, or rather goslings, for they had not been out [of the egg] long, and were very saucy. “[Listen, friend],” said one (of them) [to the duckling], “you are so ugly, [that we like you very well]. Will you go [with us], and become a bird (of passage)? Not far [from here] is another moor, ([in which] there are some pretty wild geese), all unmarried. It is 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 dead [among the rushes], and the water was tinged [with blood]. “Pop, pop,” echoed far and wide [in the distance], and whole flocks (of wild geese) rose up [from the rushes]. The sound continued [from every direction], for the sportsmen surrounded the moor, and some were even seated [on branches (of trees)], (overlooking the rushes). The blue smoke (from the guns) rose [like clouds] [over the dark trees], and as it floated away [across the water], a number (of sporting dogs) bounded in [among the rushes], (which bent [beneath them] [wherever they went]). How they terrified the poor duckling! He turned away his head [to hide it [under his wing]], and [at the same moment] a large terrible dog passed quite [near him]. His jaws were open, his tongue hung [from his mouth], and his eyes glared fearfully. He thrust his nose close [to the duckling], [showing his sharp teeth], and then, “splash, splash,” he went [into the water] [without touching him],

“[Oh],” sighed the duckling, “how thankful I am [for being so ugly]; even a dog will not bite me.” And so 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] [before all became quiet], but even then the poor young thing did not dare to move. He waited quietly [for several hours], and then, [after looking carefully [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 hardly struggle [against it]. [Towards evening], he reached a poor little cottage (that seemed ready [to fall], and only remained standing [because it could not decide [[on which side] to fall first]. The storm continued so violent, [that the duckling could go no farther]; he sat down [by the cottage], and then he noticed [that the door was not quite closed] [in consequence (of one (of the hinges having given way))]. There was therefore a 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, a tom cat, and a hen lived [in this cottage]. The tom cat, (whom the mistress called, “My little son)”, was a great favorite; he could raise his back, and purr, and could even throw out sparks [from his fur] [if it were stroked [the wrong way]]. The hen had very short legs, so she was called “Chickie short legs.” She laid good eggs, and her mistress loved her [as if she had been her own child]. [In the morning], the strange visitor was discovered, and the tom cat began [to purr], and the hen [to cluck]. 

“[What} is that noise {about]?” said the old woman, (looking [round the room]), but her sight was not very good; therefore, [when she saw the duckling] she thought [it must be a fat duck], (that had strayed [from home]) “[Oh what a prize!” she exclaimed, “I hope [it is not a drake], for then I shall have some duck’s eggs. I must wait and see.” So the duckling was allowed [to remain [on trial]] [for three weeks], but there were no eggs.

Now the tom cat was the master (of the house), and the hen was mistress, and they always said, “[We and the world],” for they believed themselves to be half the world, and the better half too. The duckling thought [that others might hold a different opinion (on the subject)], but the hen would not listen [to such doubts].

“[Can you lay eggs]?” she asked. “No.” “Then have the goodness (to hold your tongue).” “[Can you raise your back, or purr, or throw out sparks]?” said the tom cat. “No.” “Then you have no right (to express an opinion [when sensible people are speaking]).” So the duckling sat [in a corner], [feeling very low spirited], [till the sunshine and the fresh air came [into the room] [through the open door]], and then he began [to feel such a great longing (for a swim (on the water))], [that he could not help telling 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.”