丑小鸭9英文版

"I will flyto those royal birds," he exclaimed, "and they will kill me, becauseI am so ugly, and dare to approach them; but it does not matter: better bekilled by them than pecked by the ducks, beaten by the hens, pushed about bythe maiden who feeds the poultry, or starved with hunger in thewinter."   

Then he flew tothe water, and swam towards the beautiful swans.

The moment theyespied the stranger, they rushed to meet him with out stretched wings.   

"Killme," said the poor bird; and he bent his head down to the surface of thewater, and awaited death.   

But what did hesee in the clear stream below? His own image; no longer a dark, gray bird, uglyand disagreeable to look at, but a graceful and beautiful swan. To be born in aduck's nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird, if it is hatchedfrom a swan's egg. He now felt glad at having suffered sorrow and trouble, becauseit enabled him to enjoy so much better all the pleasure and happiness aroundhim; for the great swans swam round the new-comer, and stroked his neck withtheir beaks, as a welcome.   

Into the gardenpresently came some little children, and threw bread and cake into thewater.   

"See,"cried the youngest, "there is a new one;" and the rest were delighted,and ran to their father and mother, dancing and clapping their hands, andshouting joyously, "There is another swan come; a new one hasarrived."   

Then they threwmore bread and cake into the water, and said, "The new one is the most beautifulof all; he is so young and pretty. "And the old swans bowed their headsbefore him.   

Then he felt quiteashamed, and hid his head under his wing; for he did not know what to do, hewas so happy, and yet not at all proud. He had been persecuted and despised forhis ugliness, and now he heard them say he was the most beautiful of all thebirds. Even the elder-tree bent down its bows into the water before him, andthe sun shone warm and bright. Then he rustled his feathers, curved his slenderneck, and cried joyfully, from the depths of his heart, "In ever dreamedof such happiness as this, while I was an ugly duckling."                            THE END.