Mr. Andersen "The Ugly Duckling" read online. The Ugly Duckling

It was good outside the city! It was summer, the rye had already turned yellow, the oats were turning green, the hay had been swept into stacks; A long-legged stork walked around the green meadow and chatted in Egyptian - he learned this language from his mother. Behind the fields and meadows stretched large forests with deep lakes in the thicket. Yes, it was good outside the city! An old manor house lay in the sunny sun, surrounded by deep ditches filled with water; from the very fence right down to the water there grew burdock, so large that small children could stand under the largest of its leaves at their full height. In the burdock thicket it was as deaf and wild as in a dense forest, and there a duck was sitting on her eggs. She had been sitting for a long time, and she was quite tired of this sitting, she was visited little: other ducks liked to swim along the ditches more than sit in the burdock and quack with her.

Finally the eggshells cracked. “Pi! pi! - was heard from them: the egg yolks came to life and poked their noses out of the shells.

- Alive! Alive! - the duck quacked, and the ducklings hurried, somehow climbed out and began to look around, looking at green leaves burdock; the mother did not interfere with them - green color is good for the eyes.

- How big the world is! - said the ducklings. Still would! It was much more spacious here than in the shell.

- Do you think that the whole world is here? - said the mother. - No! It stretches far, far away, beyond the garden, to the priest’s field, but I haven’t been there in my life!.. Well, that’s it, are you all here? - And she stood up. - Oh no, not all! The biggest egg is intact! Will this end soon? Really, I'm tired of it.

And she sat down again.

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

- Yes, there’s one more egg left! - said the young duck. - I sit and sit, but there’s no point! But look at the others! Just beautiful! They look an awful lot like their father! But he, such a worthless wretch, never visited me even once!

- Wait a minute, I’ll look at the egg! - said the old duck. - It might be a turkey egg! I was cheated once too! Well, I was tormented as I brought out the turkey chicks! They are passionately afraid of water; I already quacked, and called, and pushed them into the water - they won’t come, and that’s the end! Let me look at the egg! Well, it is! Turkey! Give it up and go teach others to swim!

- I’ll sit still! - said the young duck. “I sat for so long that I could sit a little longer.”

- As you wish! - said the old duck and left.

Finally, the shell of the largest egg cracked. “Pi! pi-i!” - and a huge ugly chick fell out of there. The duck looked him over.

- Terribly big! - she said. - And completely different from the others! Is this really a turkey? Well, he’ll be in the water with me, 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 and his whole family went to the ditch. Bultikh! - and the duck found itself in the water.

- Behind me! Alive! - she called the ducklings, and one after another they also splashed into the water.

At first the water covered their heads, but then they emerged and swam in such a way that they could not. Their paws worked like that; the ugly gray duckling kept up with the others.

- What kind of turkey is this? - said the duck. - Look how nicely he paddles his paws, how straight he holds himself! No, this is my own son! Yes, he’s not bad at all, when you look at him well! Well, quickly, quickly, 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, and watch out for cats!

Soon we reached the poultry yard. Fathers! What was all the noise and commotion here! Two families fought over one eel's head, and in the end it went to the cat.

- This is how things go in this world! - said the duck and licked her beak with her tongue, - she also wanted to taste the eel’s head. - Well, well, move your paws! - she said to the ducklings. - Quack and bow to that old duck over there! She is the most famous here! She is of Spanish breed and that is why she is so fat. Do you see the red patch on her paw? How beautiful! This is the highest distinction a duck can receive. People make it clear that they do not want to lose her; both people and animals recognize her by this patch. Well, it's alive! Don't keep your paws together! A well-bred duckling should keep its paws apart and turn them outward, like dad and mom! Like this! Bow now and quack!

The ducklings did just that; but the other ducks looked at them and said loudly:

- Well, there’s still a whole horde! There really weren't enough of us! And one is so ugly! We won't tolerate him!

And now one duck jumped up and pecked him on the neck.

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

“That’s true, but it’s so big and strange!” - answered the bully. - He needs to give him a good beating!

- You have nice kids! - said the old duck with a red patch on her leg. - Everyone is very nice, except for one... This one was a failure! It would be nice to remake it!

- No way, your honor! - answered the mother duck. “He is ugly, but he has a kind heart, and he swims no worse, I dare say, better than others.” I think he will grow, get prettier or become smaller over time. It stayed in the egg, which is why it was not entirely successful. “And she ran her nose over the feathers of the big duckling. “Besides, he’s a drake, and a drake doesn’t really need beauty.” 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, who hatched later than everyone else and was so ugly, was pecked, pushed and ridiculed by absolutely everyone - both ducks and chickens.

- It's too big! - everyone said, and the Indian rooster, who was born with spurs on his legs and therefore imagined himself to be an emperor, pouted and, like a ship in full sail, flew up to the duckling, looked at him and began to babble angrily; his comb was so full of blood. The poor duckling simply didn’t know what to do or what to do. And he had to be born so ugly, some kind of laughing stock for the entire poultry yard!

The first day went like this, then things got even worse. Everyone persecuted the poor thing, even his 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 have seen you!

The ducks pecked at him, the chickens plucked him, and the girl who gave food to the birds kicked him.

The duckling could not stand it, ran across the yard and - through the fence! Little birds flew out of the bushes in fear. “They were scared of me, I’m so ugly!” - thought the duckling and took off running, not knowing where. He ran and ran until he found himself in the swamp where they lived wild ducks. Tired and sad, he sat there all night.

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

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

- You are ugly! - said the wild ducks. “But we don’t care about that, just don’t think about becoming related to us!”

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

He spent two days in the swamp; on the third day two wild ganders appeared. They had recently hatched from eggs and therefore performed very proudly.

- Listen, buddy! - they said. “You’re such a freak that we really like you!” Do you want to fly with us and be a free bird? Not far from here, in another swamp, live some pretty little wild geese. They know how to say: “Run, rap!” You're such a freak that, what good, you'll be a big success with them!

“Bang! pow!” - suddenly rang out over the swamp, and both ganders fell into the reeds dead; the water was stained with blood. “Bang! pow!” - it was heard again, and a whole flock of wild geese. The shooting began. The hunters cordoned off the swamp on all sides; some of them were sitting in tree branches overhanging the swamp. Blue smoke enveloped the trees in clouds and hung over the water. Hunting dogs splashed across the swamp; the reeds swayed from side to side. The poor duckling was neither alive nor dead from fear and just wanted to hide his head under his wing, when lo and behold, in front of him was a hunting dog with his tongue hanging out and sparkling evil eyes. She brought her mouth closer to the duckling, bared her sharp teeth and ran on.

- God bless! — the duckling took a breath. - God bless! I'm so ugly that even a dog would hate to bite me!

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

The shooting died down only in the evening, but the duckling was still afraid to move for a long time. Several more hours passed before he dared to get up, look around and start running further across the fields and meadows. The wind was blowing so strong that the duckling could barely move. By nightfall he reached the poor hut. The hut was so dilapidated that it was ready to fall, but it didn’t know which side, that’s why it held on. The wind kept picking up the duckling—you had to rest your tail on the ground!

The wind, however, kept getting stronger; What was the duckling to do? Fortunately, he noticed that the hut door had come off one hinge and was hanging completely crooked; one could freely slip through this gap into the hut. 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 against the grain.

The chicken had small, short legs, and was nicknamed Short-legged; she diligently laid eggs, and the old woman loved her like a daughter.

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

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

- What a find! - said the old lady. - Now I will have duck eggs, unless it is a drake. Well, we'll see, we'll try it!

And the duckling was accepted for testing, but three weeks passed and there were still no eggs. The master of the house was a cat, and the mistress was a chicken, and both always said: “We and the whole world!” They considered themselves half of the whole world, and, moreover, the best half of it. It seemed to the duckling that there could be 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 meddle with your opinion when smart people speak!

And the duckling sat in the corner, ruffled. Suddenly he remembered the fresh air and the sun, and he really wanted to swim. He couldn't stand it and told the chicken about it.

- What's wrong with you?! she asked. - You're idle, and a whim is creeping into your head! Lay some eggs or purr, the stupidity will go away!

- Oh, it’s so nice to swim on water! - said the duckling. - What a pleasure it is to dive headlong into the very depths!

- Good pleasure! - said the chicken. - You're completely crazy! Ask the cat, he's smarter than anyone I know, if he likes to swim or dive! I'm not even talking about myself! Finally, ask our old landlady, there is no one in the world smarter than her! In your opinion, does she want to swim or dive?

- You do not understand me! - said the duckling.

- If we don’t understand, then who will understand you! Well, do you want to be smarter than the cat and the owner, not to mention me? Don’t be stupid, but rather thank the creator for everything they did for you! You have been sheltered, warmed up, you are surrounded by 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, that’s why I scold you - this is how true friends are always recognized! Try to lay eggs or learn to purr and let off sparks!

“I think I’d better get out of here wherever I look!” - said the duckling.

- Good riddance! - answered the chicken.

And the duckling left. 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 brown; the wind picked them up and whirled them around; Above, in the sky, it became so cold that heavy clouds were scattering hail and snow, and a raven sat on the fence and croaked from the cold at the top of its lungs. Brr! You'll freeze just thinking about such cold! Things were bad for the poor duckling.

One evening, when the sun was setting so beautifully, a whole flock of wonderful creatures rose from behind the bushes, big birds; The duckling had never seen such beauties: they were all white as snow, with long, flexible necks! They were swans. They let out some strange cry, flapped their magnificent, large wings and flew from the cold meadows to warm lands, beyond the blue sea. They rose high, high, and the poor duckling was overcome by some vague excitement. He spun around in the water like a top, stretched out his neck and also let out such a loud and strange cry that he himself was frightened. The wonderful birds could not leave his mind, and when they were completely out of sight, he dived to the very bottom, emerged again and was as if beside himself. The duckling did not know the name of these birds, where they were flying, but he fell in love with them as he had never loved anyone before. He did not envy their beauty; it could not even occur to him to wish to be like them; He would also be glad that at least the ducks didn’t push him away. Poor ugly duckling!

And the winter was very, very cold. The duckling had to swim without rest to prevent the water from freezing completely, but every night the ice-free space became smaller and smaller. It was so freezing that the ice crust was cracking. The duckling worked tirelessly 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 decided to play with him, and he imagined that they wanted to offend him, and out of fear he jumped straight into the milk pan - the milk all splashed out. The woman screamed and threw up her hands; Meanwhile, the duckling flew into a tub of butter, and from there into a barrel of flour. Fathers, what did he look like! The woman screamed and chased him with coal tongs, the children ran, knocking each other down, laughing and screaming. It’s good that the door was open, the duckling ran out, rushed into the bushes, straight into the freshly fallen snow and lay there for a long, long time, almost unconscious.

It would be too sad to describe all the duckling’s misadventures during this harsh winter. When the sun again warmed the earth with its warm rays, he lay in the swamp, in the reeds. The larks began to sing, spring has come.

The duckling flapped his wings and flew; Now his wings made noise and 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 all in bloom; fragrant lilacs bent their long green branches over the winding canal.

Oh, how nice it was here, how it smelled like spring! Suddenly, three wonderful white swans swam out of the reed thicket. They swam so easily and smoothly, as if they were gliding through the water. The duckling recognized the beautiful birds, and was overcome by some strange sadness.

“I’ll fly to these royal birds; They will probably kill me because I, so ugly, dared to approach them, but let them! It’s better to be killed by them than to endure the pinching of ducks and chickens, the kicks of the poultry house, and endure the cold and hunger in winter!”

And he flew onto the water and swam towards the handsome swans, who, seeing him, also rushed towards 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 image, but he was no longer an ugly dark gray bird, but a swan!

It doesn't matter if you were born in a duck's nest if you were hatched from a swan's egg! Now he was glad that he had endured so much grief and disaster - he could better appreciate his happiness and all the splendor that surrounded him. Large swans swam around him and caressed him, stroking him with their beaks.

Little children came running 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 chimed in:

- Yes, new, new! — they clapped their hands and danced for joy; then they ran after father and mother and again threw crumbs of bread and cake into the water. Everyone said that the new one was the most beautiful 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 the beautiful birds! The lilacs bent their fragrant branches into the water towards him, the sun was shining so gloriously... And then his wings rustled, his slender neck straightened, and a jubilant cry burst from his chest:

“Could I have dreamed of such happiness when I was still an ugly duckling!”

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G.H. Andersen

Ugly duck

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

Finally the eggshells cracked.

The ducklings began to stir, chattered their beaks and stuck their heads out.

Peep, peep! - they said.

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

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

Oh, how big the world is! - said the ducklings. Still would! Now they had much more space than in the shell.

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

And she sat down again.

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

“Well, I just can’t cope with one egg,” said the young duck. - I sit and sit, but it still doesn’t burst. But look at those little ones that have already hatched. Just beautiful! All, as one, like their father! And he, the worthless one, didn’t even visit me even once!

“Wait, show me first that egg that doesn’t burst,” said the old duck. - Isn’t it turkey, what’s wrong? Well, yes, of course!.. That’s exactly how they tricked me once. 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 even drive them into a ditch. I hissed, and quacked, and simply pushed them into the water - they weren’t coming, and that’s all. Let me take another look. Well, it is! Turkey! Give it up and go teach your kids to swim!

No, I think I’ll 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 squealed and fell out of the shell.

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

Horrible freak! - she said. - And not at all like the others! Isn't this really a turkey? Well, he’ll be in the water with me, 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 and his whole family went to the ditch. Bultikh! - and she found herself in the water.

Crack-crack! Behind me! Alive! - she called, and one after another the ducklings also splashed into the water.

At first the water covered them completely, but they immediately surfaced and swam forward perfectly. Their paws worked just like that. Even the ugly gray duckling kept up with the others.

What kind of turkey is this? - said the duck. - Look how nicely he paddles 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, quickly, quickly follow me! I will now introduce you to society - we will go to the poultry yard. Just stay close to me so that no one steps on you, and watch out for cats!

Soon the duck and its entire brood reached the poultry yard. Oh my God! What was that noise! Two duck families were fighting over the head of an eel. 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 an eel’s head. - Well, well, move your paws! - she commanded, turning to the ducklings. - Quack and bow to that old duck over there! She is the most famous here. She is of Spanish breed and that is why she is 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 don’t want to lose her - both people and animals immediately recognize her by this scrap. Well, it's alive! Don't keep your paws together! A well-bred duckling should turn its paws outward. Like this! Look. Now tilt your heads and say: “Quack!”

The ducklings did just that.

But the other ducks looked at them and spoke loudly:

Well, here's another whole horde! It’s as if we wouldn’t be enough without them! And one is so nasty! We will never tolerate this!

And now one duck flew up and pecked him on the neck.

Leave him! - said the mother duck. - After all, he didn’t do anything to you!

Let's assume that it is so. But it’s kind of big and awkward! - the evil duck hissed. - It doesn’t hurt to teach him a lesson.

And the noble duck with a red patch on her leg said:

Nice kids you have! Everyone is very, very nice, except for one, perhaps... The poor fellow was a failure! It would be nice to remake it.

This is absolutely impossible, your honor! - answered the mother duck. “He’s ugly, that’s true, but he has a good heart.” And he swims no worse, I dare say, better than others. I think over time it will even out and become smaller. It had been in the egg for too long and had therefore grown 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 in 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 so the ducklings began to behave like at home. Only the poor duckling, who hatched later than the others and was so ugly, was not given 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 legs and therefore imagined himself almost an emperor, pouted and, like a ship in full sail, flew straight up to the duckling, looked at him and began to babble angrily; his comb was filled with blood. The poor duckling simply did not know what to do, where to go. And he had to be so ugly that the whole poultry yard laughs at him!

The first day went like this, and then it got even worse. Everyone chased the poor duckling, even his 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 him, the chickens pecked him, and the girl who gave food to the birds pushed him away with her foot.

Finally the duckling couldn't stand it anymore. He ran across the yard and, spreading his clumsy wings, somehow fell over the fence straight into the thorny bushes.

Small birds sitting on the branches took off at once and scattered in different directions.

“It’s because I’m so ugly,” thought the duckling and, closing his eyes, he began to run, not knowing where. 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 disgusting! - said the wild ducks. - However, we have nothing to do with this, as long as you don’t interfere with our family.

Poor thing! Where could he even think about it! If only he were allowed to live in the reeds and drink swamp water, he never dreamed of anything more.

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

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 - we fly wherever we want. There is also a swamp nearby, where lovely little wild geese live. They know how to say: "Rap! Rap!" You are so funny that, good luck, you will be a great success with them.

Bang! Pow! - suddenly rang out over the swamp, and both ganders fell into the reeds dead, and the water turned red with blood.

Bang! Pow! - it was heard 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 into trees and fired from above. Blue smoke enveloped the treetops in clouds and hung over the water. Hunting dogs scoured the swamp. All you could hear 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 its tongue hanging out and sparkling evil eyes appeared right in front of him. She looked at the duckling, bared her sharp teeth and - slap-slap! - ran further.

“It seems like it’s gone,” the duckling thought and took a breath. “Apparently, I’m so disgusting that even a dog is disgusted to eat me!”

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

The shooting died down 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 carefully 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, miserable hut. The hut was so dilapidated that it was ready to fall, but it didn’t know which side, so it held on.

The wind kept catching the duckling, and I had to press close to the ground to avoid being carried away.

Fortunately, he noticed that the door of the hut had come off one hinge and was so warped that one could easily get inside through the crack. And the duckling made its 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 to do this you had to stroke him against the grain. The chicken had small, short legs, and that’s why it was called Short-legged. She laid eggs diligently, and the old woman loved her like a daughter.

In the morning the duckling was spotted. The cat began to purr and the chicken began to cluck.

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

What a find! - said the old lady. - Now I will have duck eggs, unless it is a drake. And she decided to keep the stray bird with her. But three weeks passed, and there were still no eggs. The real master of the house was the cat, and the mistress was the chicken. Both of them always said: “We and the whole world!” They considered themselves half of the whole world, and, moreover, the better half. The duckling, however, seemed to have a different opinion on this matter. But the chicken did not allow 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, shoot sparks and purr?

So don’t meddle with your opinion when smart people speak!

And the duckling sat in the corner, ruffled.

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

Well, what else did you come up with? - the chicken attacked him. - You're idle, and all sorts of nonsense creeps into your head! Lay some eggs or purr, the stupidity will go away!

Oh, it's so nice to swim! - said the duckling. - It’s such a pleasure to dive headfirst into the very depths!

What a pleasure! - said the chicken. - You're completely crazy! Ask the cat - he is the most sensible person I know - does he like to swim and dive? I'm not talking about myself. Finally, ask our old lady, there is probably no one in the world smarter than her! She'll tell you if she likes to dive headfirst into the deep end!

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 mistress, not to mention me! Don't be a fool and be grateful for everything they did for you! You were sheltered, warmed up, you found yourself in a society in which you can learn something. But you are an empty head, and there is no point in talking to you. Believe me! I wish you well, that’s why I scold you. This is what true friends always do. Try to lay eggs or learn to purr and sprinkle sparks!

I think I'd better get out of here and head off! - said the duckling.

Well, go ahead! - answered the chicken.

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

Meanwhile, autumn has come. The leaves on the trees turned yellow and brown. They fell from the branches, and the wind picked them up and swirled through the air. It became very cold. Heavy clouds scattered either hail or snow on the ground. Even the raven, sitting on the fence, croaked at the top of his lungs from the cold. Brr! You'll freeze just thinking about such cold!

Things were bad for the poor duckling.

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

These were swans.

Their scream sounded like a trumpet. They spread their wide, mighty wings and flew from the cold meadows to warm lands, beyond the blue seas... Now they rose high, high, and the poor duckling kept looking after them, and some incomprehensible anxiety gripped him. He spun around in the water like a top, stretched out his neck and also screamed, so loudly and strangely that he got scared. He could not take his eyes off these beautiful birds, and when they were completely out of sight, he dived to the very bottom, then swam out again and still could not come to his senses for a long time. The duckling did not know the name of these birds, did not know where they were flying, but he 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 beautiful as them.

He would have been glad if at least the ducks had not pushed him away from them. Poor ugly duckling!

Winter has come, very cold. The duckling had to swim around the lake without rest in order to prevent 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 worked tirelessly with its paws. In the end, he was completely exhausted, stretched out and froze to the 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 took the half-dead bird home to his wife.

The duckling was warmed up.

The children decided to play with him, but the duckling thought that they wanted to offend him. He jumped out of fear into a corner and fell straight into a milk pan. Milk flowed across the floor. The hostess screamed and clasped her hands, and the duckling rushed around the room, flew into a tub of butter, and from there into a barrel of flour. It's easy to imagine what he looked like!

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 is back!

The duckling got out of the reeds, where he had been hiding all winter, flapped his wings and flew. His wings were now much stronger than before; they made noise and lifted him above the ground. Before he had time to come to his senses, he had already reached large garden. The apple trees were all in bloom, fragrant lilacs bent their long green branches over the winding canal. Oh, how nice it was here, how it smelled like spring!

And suddenly three wonderful white swans swam out of the reed thicket. They swam so easily and smoothly, as if they were gliding through the water. The duckling recognized these beautiful birds, and was overcome by some incomprehensible sadness.

“I’ll fly to them, to these majestic birds. They will probably peck me to death because I, so disgusting, dared to approach them. But still! It’s better to die from their blows than to endure the pinch of ducks and chickens, the kicks of a poultry woman, and endure cold and hunger in winter!”

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

Kill me! - said the ugly duckling and lowered his head low.

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

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

At this time, children came running into the garden. They began to throw pieces of bread and grain to the swans, and the youngest of them shouted:

The new one has arrived! The new one has arrived! And everyone else chimed in:

Yes, new, new!

The children clapped their hands and danced with joy. Then they ran after their father and mother and again began throwing pieces of bread and cake into the water.

Both children and adults 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 remembered the time when everyone laughed at him and drove him away. But all this was behind us. Now people say that he is the most beautiful among the beautiful swans. The lilac bends its fragrant branches into the water towards him, and the sun caresses him with its warm rays... And then his wings rustled, his slender neck straightened, and a jubilant cry burst from his chest:

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

Finally the eggshells cracked.

The ducklings began to stir, chattered their beaks and stuck their heads out.

- Pip, pip! - they said.

- Quack, quack! - answered the duck. - Hurry up!

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

- Oh, how big the world is! - said the ducklings. Still would! Now they had much more space than in the shell.

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

And she sat down again.

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

“Well, I just can’t cope with one egg,” said the young duck. “I sit and sit, but it still doesn’t burst.” But look at those little ones that have already hatched. Just beautiful! All, as one, like their father! And he, the worthless one, didn’t even visit me even once!

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

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

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

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

- Horrible freak! - she said. - And not at all like the others! Isn't this really a turkey? Well, he’ll be in the water with me, 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 and his whole family went to the ditch. Bultikh! - and she found herself in the water.

- Quack-quack! Behind me! Alive! - she called, and one after another the ducklings also splashed into the water.

At first the water covered them completely, but they immediately surfaced and swam forward perfectly. Their paws worked just like that. Even the ugly gray duckling kept up with the others.

- What kind of turkey is this? - said the duck. - Look how nicely he paddles 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, quickly, quickly follow me! I will now introduce you to society - we will go to the poultry yard. Just stay close to me so that no one steps on you, and watch out for cats!

Soon the duck and its entire brood reached the poultry yard. Oh my God! What was that noise! Two duck families were fighting over the head of an eel. 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 an eel’s head. - Well, well, move your paws! - she commanded, turning to the ducklings. - Quack and bow to that old duck over there! She is the most famous here. She is of Spanish breed and that is why she is 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 don’t want to lose her - both people and animals immediately recognize her by this piece of paper. Well, it's alive! Don't keep your paws together! A well-bred duckling should turn its paws outward. Like this! Look. Now tilt your heads and say: “Quack!”

The ducklings did just that.

But the other ducks looked at them and spoke loudly:

- Well, there’s still a whole horde! It’s as if we wouldn’t be enough without them! And one is so nasty! We will never tolerate this!

And now one duck flew up and pecked him on the neck.

- Leave him alone! - said the mother duck. - After all, he didn’t do anything to you!

- Let's say so. But it’s kind of big and awkward! - the angry duck hissed. “It doesn’t hurt to teach him a lesson.”

And the noble duck with a red patch on her leg said:

- You have nice kids! Everyone is very, very nice, except for one, perhaps... The poor fellow was a failure! It would be nice to remake it.

- This is absolutely impossible, your honor! - answered the mother duck. “He’s ugly, that’s true, but he has a good heart.” And he swims no worse, I dare say, better than others. I think over time it will even out and become smaller. It had been in the egg for too long and had therefore grown 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 in 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’s head, you can bring it to me.”

- Too big! - they said.

Finally the duckling couldn't stand it anymore. He ran across the yard and, spreading his clumsy wings, somehow fell over the fence straight into the thorny bushes.

Small birds sitting on the branches took off at once and scattered in different directions.

“It’s because I’m so ugly,” thought the duckling and, closing his eyes, he began to run, not knowing where. 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’re disgusting! - said the wild ducks. “However, we have nothing to do with that, as long as you don’t interfere with our family.”

Poor thing! Where could he even think about it! If only he were allowed to live in the reeds and drink swamp water, he never dreamed of anything more.

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

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