The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen It was so glorious out in the country; it was At last one egg-shell after another burst summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats open. “Piep! piep!” it cried, and in all the were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in eggs there were little creatures that stuck the green meadows, and the stork went about out their heads. on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, “Quack! quack!” they said; and they for this was the language he had learned from all came quacking out as fast as they could, his good moth- looking all er. All around round them the fields and under the meadows were green leaves; great forests, and the moth- and in the midst er let them of these forests look as much lay deep lakes. as they chose, Yes, it was right for green is glorious out in good for the the country. In eye. the midst of the “ H o w sunshine there wide the world lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and is!” said all the young ones, for they certainly from the wall down to the water grew great bur- had much more room now than when they docks, so high that little children could stand were in the eggs. upright under the loftiest of them. It was just “D’ye think this is all the world?” said as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here the mother. “That stretches far across the oth- sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her er side of the garden, quite into the parson’s ducklings; but she was almost tired out before field; but I have never been there yet. I hope the little ones came and then she so seldom had you are all together,” and she stood up. “No, visitors. The other ducks liked better to swim I have not all. The largest egg still lies there. about in the canals than to run up to sit down How long is that to last? I am really tired of under a burdock, and cackle with her. it.” And she sat down again. — — Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu The Ugly Duckling Hans Christian Andersen “Well, how goes it?” asked an old Duck closed over their heads, but they came up in who had come to pay her a visit. an instant, and swam capitally; their legs went “It lasts a long time with that one egg,” of themselves, and they were all in the water. said the Duck who sat there. “It will not burst. The ugly gray Duckling swam with them. Now, only look at the others; are they not the “No, it’s not a turkey,” said she; “look how prettiest little ducks one could possibly see? well it can use its legs, and how straight it holds They are all like their father. The rogue, he itself. It is my own child! On the whole it’s quite never comes to see me.” pretty, if one looks at it rightly. Quack! quack! “Let me see the egg which will not burst,” come with me, and I’ll lead you out into the said the old visitor. “You may be sure it is a tur- great world, and present you in the duck-yard; key’s egg. I was once cheated in that way, and but keep close to me, so that no one may tread had much anxiety and trouble with the young on you, and take care of the cats!” ones, for they are afraid of the water. Must I say And so they came into the duck-yard. it to you, I could not get them to venture in. I There was a terrible riot going on in there, for quacked and I clacked, but it was no use. Let two families were quarrelling about an eel’s me see the egg. Yes, that’s a turkey’s egg. Let it lie head, and the cat got it after all. there, and teach the other children to swim.” “See, that’s how it goes in the world!” said “I think I will sit on it a little longer,” said the Duck. the Mother-Duck; and she whetted her beak, “I’ve sat so long now that I can sit a few days more.” for she too wanted the eel’s head. “Only use “Just as you please,” said the old Duck; your legs,” she said. “See that you can bustle and she went away. about, and bow your heads before the old Duck At last the great egg burst. “Piep! piep!” yonder. She’s the grandest of all here; she’s of said the little one, and crept forth. It was very Spanish blood—that’s why she’s so fat; and large and very ugly. The Duck looked at it. d’ye see? she has a red rag round her leg; that’s “It’s a very large duckling,” said she; “none of something particularly fine, and the greatest the others look like that. Can it really be a turkey distinction a duck can enjoy; it signifies that chick? Well, we shall soon find out. It must go into one does not want to lose her, and that she’s the water, even if I have to thrust it in myself.” to be known by the animals and by men too. The next day it was bright, beautiful Shake yourselves—don’t turn in your toes; a weather; the sun shone on all the green trees. well brought-up duck turns its toes quite out, The Mother-Duck went down to the canal just like father and mother—so! Now bend with all her family. Splash! she jumped into your necks and say ‘Quack!’” the water. “Quack! quack!” she said, and one And they did so: but the other ducks round duckling after another plunged in. The water about looked at them, and said quite boldly: — — Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu The Ugly Duckling Hans Christian Andersen “Look there! now we’re to have these “It is too big!” they all said. And the tur- hanging on, as if there were not enough of us key-cock, who had been born with spurs, and already! And—fie!—how that duckling yon- therefore thought himself an emperor, blew der looks; we won’t stand that!” And one duck himself up like a ship in full sail, and bore flew up at it, and bit it in the neck. straight down upon it; then he gobbled and “Let it alone,” said the mother; “it does grew quite red in the face. The poor Duckling no harm to any one.” did not know where it should stand or walk; it “Yes, but it’s too large and peculiar,” said was quite melancholy because it looked ugly, the Duck who had bitten it; “and therefore it and was the butt of the whole duck-yard. must be put down.” So it went on the first day; and afterwards “Those are pretty children that the mother has it became worse and worse. The poor Duck- there,” said the old Duck with the rag round her ling was hunted about by every one; even its leg. “They’re all pretty but that one; that was rather brothers and sisters were quite angry with it, unlucky. I wish she could bear it over again.” and said, “If the cat would only catch you, “That cannot be done, my lady,” replied you ugly creature!” And the mother said, “If the Mother-Duck. “It is not pretty, but it has you were only far away!” And the ducks bit it, a really good disposition, and swims as well as and the chickens beat it, and the girl who had any other; yes, I may even say it, swims bet- to feed the poultry kicked at it with her foot. ter. I think it will grow up pretty, and become Then it ran and flew over the fence, and smaller in time; it has lain too long in the egg, the little birds in the bushes flew up in fear. and therefore is not properly shaped.” And “That is because I am so ugly!” thought then she pinched it in the neck, and smoothed the Duckling; and it shut its eyes, but flew on its feathers. “Moreover, it is a drake,” she farther, and so it came out into the great moor, said, “and therefore it is not of so much con- where the wild ducks lived. Here it lay the whole sequence. I think he will be very strong. He night long; and it was weary and downcast. makes his way already.” Towards morning the wild ducks flew up, “The other ducklings are graceful enough,” and looked at their new companion. said the old Duck. “Make yourself at home; and “What sort of a one are you?” they asked; if you find an eel’s head, you may bring it me.” and the Duckling turned in every direction, And now they were at home. But the poor and bowed as well as it could. “You are re- Duckling which had crept last out of the egg, markably ugly!” said the Wild Ducks. “But and looked so ugly, was bitten and pushed and that is nothing to us, so long as you do not jeered, as much by the ducks as by the chickens. marry into our family.” — — Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu The Ugly Duckling Hans Christian Andersen Poor thing! it certainly did not think of mar- his nose close against the Duckling, showed rying, and only hoped to obtain leave to lie among his sharp teeth, and—splash, splash!—on he the reeds and drink some of the swamp water.