G x andersen ugly duckling print. The Ugly Duckling - Hans Christian Andersen
It was good for the city!
It was summer. The rye turned golden, the oats turned green, the hay was swept into haystacks; a long-legged stork paced the green meadow and chatted in Egyptian, the language he had learned from his mother.
Large forests stretched beyond the fields and meadows, and in the forests there were deep lakes. Yes, it was good for the city!
Directly in the sun lay an old manor, surrounded by deep ditches with water; burdock grew from the walls of the house to the very water, so big that little children could stand upright under the largest leaves. In the thicket of burdock it was deaf and wild, as in the densest forest, and there a duck was sitting on its eggs.
She had to take out ducklings, and she was pretty tired of it, because she had been sitting for a long time and she was rarely visited - other ducks liked to swim in ditches more than sit in mugs and quack with her. Finally, the eggshells crackled.
Pip! Pip! - squeaked inside. All the egg yolks came to life and stuck out their heads.
Quack! Quack! - said the duck. The ducklings quickly climbed out of the shell and began to look around under the green leaves of burdock; mother did not interfere with them - the green color is good for the eyes.
Ah, how great is the world! - said the ducklings.
Still would! It was much more spacious here than in the shell.
Don't you think that the whole world is here? - said the mother. - What is there! It stretches far, far away, over there, beyond the garden, into the field, but I have never been there! .. Well, are you all here?
And she got up.
Oh no, not all. The biggest egg is intact! When will this end! I will soon lose my patience.
And she sat down again.
Well how are you? - asked the old duck, who came to visit her.
Yes, I can’t manage with one egg, ”said the young duck. - Everything does not burst. But look at the little ones! Just beautiful! All, as one, - in the father.
Come on, show me an egg that does not burst, said the old duck. - It must be a turkey egg. That's exactly the same way I was once carried out. Well, I had trouble with these turkeys, I tell you! Couldn't get them into the water. I already quacked and pushed - they don’t go, and that’s all! Come on, show me the egg. And there is! Turkey! Drop it and go teach the kids to swim!
I'll sit still! - said the young duck. - I sat so much that I can sit still.
As you wish! - said the old duck and left.
Finally the big egg burst.
Pip! Pip! - squeaked the chick and fell out of the egg. But how big and ugly he was!
The duck looked at him.
Terribly big! - she said. - And not at all like the others! Isn't that a turkey, really? Well, yes, he will visit me in the water, yes, I will drive him by force!
The next day the weather was wonderful, the green burdock was flooded with sun. The duck with all his family went to the ditch. Bultykh! - and she found herself in the water.
Quack! Quack! she called, and the ducklings, one by one, also floundered into the water. At first the water covered them completely, but they immediately surfaced and swam well forward.
Their paws worked like that, and even the ugly gray duck kept up with the others.
What kind of Indian is this? - said the duck. - Look how nicely he rows with his paws! And how straight it stays! No, he is mine, my dear... Yes, he is not bad at all, as you look at him well. Well, live, live for me! Now I will introduce you to society, I will introduce you to the poultry yard. Just stay close to me so that someone does not step on you, but watch out for cats!
Soon we got to the poultry yard. Fathers! What was that noise!
Two families of ducks fought over one head of eel, and ended up with the cat getting the head.
Here you see how it happens in the world! - said the duck and licked her beak with her tongue - she herself was not averse to tasting the eel head.
Well, well, move your paws! she said to the ducklings. - Grunt and bow to that old duck! She is the best here. She's Spanish and that's why she's so fat. You see, she has a red flap on her paw. How beautiful! it highest distinction, which only a duck can get. This means that they do not want to lose her - both people and animals recognize her by this flap. Well, live! Don't keep your paws inside! A well-bred duckling should turn its paws outward, like father and mother. Like this! Look! Now tilt your head and say, "Quack!"
And so they did. But the other ducks looked at them and said loudly:
Well, here's another whole bunch! Like there weren't enough of us? And what an ugly one! We won't tolerate him!
And immediately one duck flew up and pecked him on the back of the head.
Leave it! said the mother duck. "He didn't do anything to you!"
Suppose, but he is so big and strange! - answered a strange duck. - He needs to be asked well.
You have nice kids! - said the old duck with a red flap on its paw. - All the nice ones, here's just one... This one didn't work out! It would be nice to change it!
It's impossible, your grace! - answered the mother duck. He is ugly, but he has kind heart. And he swims no worse, I even dare to say - better than others. I think over time it will even out and become smaller. He had lain in the egg for too long, which is why he did not quite succeed.
And she scratched the back of his head and stroked his feathers.
In addition, he is a drake, and a drake does not really need beauty. I think he will get stronger 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.
Here are the ducklings and settled at home. Only the poor duckling, which hatched later than everyone else and was so ugly, was pecked, pushed and teased by absolutely everyone - both ducks and chickens.
Painfully big! they said.
And the Indian rooster, who was born with spurs on his feet and therefore imagined himself an emperor, pouted and, like a ship in full sail, flew up to the duckling, looked at him and clapped angrily; his comb was so full of blood.
The poor duckling simply did not know what to do, where to go. And he should have been born so ugly that the whole poultry yard laughs at him! ..
So the first day passed, and then it got even worse. Everyone drove the poor duckling away, even the brothers and sisters angrily said to him:
If only the cat had dragged you away, you insufferable freak!
And the mother added:
Eyes would not look at you!
Ducks nibbled at him, chickens pecked at him, and the girl who gave the birds food pushed him with her foot.
The duckling could not stand it, ran across the yard - and through the fence! Small birds frightened fluttered out of the bushes.
"That's because I'm so ugly!" - thought the duckling, closed his eyes and set off further.
He ran and ran until he found himself in a swamp where wild ducks lived. Tired and sad, he lay there all night.
In the morning, wild ducks rose from their nests and saw a new comrade.
What is this bird? they asked.
The duckling turned and bowed in all directions as best he could.
Well, you are a monster! said the wild ducks. - However, we do not care, just do not think to intermarry with us.
Poor thing! Where was he to think about it! If only they would let him sit in the reeds and drink marsh water.
He spent two days in the swamp. On the third day, two wild ganders appeared. They had only recently hatched from eggs and therefore were very proud.
Listen, buddy! they said. - You are such a freak that we really like you! Do you want to fly with us and be a free bird? There is another swamp nearby, where pretty wild young geese live. They know how to say: "Ha-ha-ha!" You are such a freak that, what good, you will be successful with them.
Pif! Puff! - there was suddenly heard over the swamp, and both ganders fell dead into the reeds; the water was stained with their blood.
Pif! Puff! - it was heard again, and a whole flock of wild geese rose from the reeds. The firing went. Hunters surrounded the swamp on all sides; some even settled in the branches of trees hanging over the swamp.
Blue smoke clouded the trees and drifted over the water. Hunting dogs ran through the swamp - slap! slap! The reeds and 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 a protruding tongue and sparkling evil eyes appeared right in front of him.
She stuck her mouth to the duckling, bared her sharp teeth and - slap! Slap! - ran further.
“I didn’t touch it,” the duckling thought and took a breath. “It’s obvious that I’m so ugly that even a dog is disgusted to bite me!”
And he hid in the reeds.
Over his head now and then shots whistled, shots rang out. The firing subsided only in the evening, but the duckling was still afraid to move for a long time.
Only a few hours later he dared to get up, looked around and started running further through the fields and meadows. Dul such strong wind that the duckling could barely move.
By nightfall he ran to the poor hut. The hut was so dilapidated that it was ready to fall, but did not know which side, and therefore held on.
The wind picked up the duckling - it was necessary to rest against the ground with its tail. And the wind got stronger.
Then the duckling noticed that the door of the hut had jumped off one hinge and was hanging so crookedly that it was possible to freely slip through the crack into the hut. And 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 let off sparks if you stroke him the wrong way.
The chicken had small, short legs, which is why it was called Short-legged; she diligently laid eggs, and the old woman loved her like a daughter.
In the morning, someone else's duckling was noticed. The cat purred, the chicken clucked.
What's there? - asked the old woman, looked around and noticed a duckling, but due to her blindness she mistook him for a fat duck that had strayed from home.
What a find! - said the old woman. - Now I will have duck eggs, if only it is not a drake. Well, let's see, let's try!
And the duckling was accepted for testing. But three weeks passed, and there were still no eggs.
The cat was the real master of the house, and the chicken was the mistress, and both always said:
We and the whole world!
They considered themselves half of the whole world, and moreover better half.
True, the duckling believed that one could have a different opinion on this matter. But the chicken didn't.
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 sparkle?
So don't stick around with your opinion when they say smart people!
And the duckling was sitting in the corner ruffled.
Suddenly he remembered the fresh air and the sun, he terribly wanted to swim. He could not stand it and told the chicken about it.
What's wrong with you? she asked. - You're idle, here's a whim in your head and climbs! Bring some eggs or purr, the nonsense will pass!
Ah, it's so nice to swim! - said the duckling. - It's such a pleasure to dive headfirst into the very depths!
That's so fun! - said the chicken. - You're completely crazy! Ask the cat - he is smarter than anyone I know - if he likes to swim and dive. I'm not talking about myself! Finally, ask our old lady, there is no one smarter than her in the world! Do you think she wants to swim or dive?
You don't understand me, - said the duckling.
If we do not understand, then who will understand you! Do you want to be smarter than the cat and the mistress, not to mention me? Don't be foolish, but be grateful for everything that has been done for you! They sheltered you, warmed you up, you ended up in a society in which you can learn something. But you're an empty head, and it's not worth talking to you. Believe me! I wish you well, therefore I scold you. This is how true friends are always known. Try to lay eggs or learn to purr and sparkle!
I think it's better for me to leave here wherever my eyes look, - said the duckling.
Well, go ahead! - answered the chicken.
And the duckling is gone. 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 turned brown; the wind picked them up and whirled them through the air. It got very cold.
Heavy clouds poured hail and snow on the ground, and a raven sat on the fence and croaked from the cold at the top of his lungs. Brr! You will freeze at the mere thought of such a cold!
It was bad for the poor duckling. Once, in the evening, when the sun was still shining in the sky, a whole flock of beautiful big birds, the duckling has never seen such beautiful ones: all white as snow, with long, flexible necks.
They were swans.
Having uttered a strange cry, they fluttered their magnificent large wings and flew from the cold meadows to the warm lands, beyond the blue sea. The swans rose high, high, and the poor duckling was seized with an incomprehensible alarm.
He twirled like a top in the water, stretched out his neck and also screamed, but so loudly and strangely that he himself was frightened. Ah, he could not take his eyes off these beautiful happy birds, and when they were completely out of sight, he dived to the very bottom, emerged and seemed to be out of his mind. The duckling did not know the names of these birds, where they fly, but he fell in love with them, just as he had not loved anyone in the world until now.
He did not envy their beauty; it never occurred to him that he could be as handsome as them. He would have been glad, radechonek, if at least the ducks had not repelled him from themselves.
Poor ugly duckling!
Winter has come cold, very cold. The duckling had to swim without rest to keep the water from freezing completely, but every night the hole in which he swam became smaller and smaller.
It was so cold that even the ice crackled. The duckling worked tirelessly with its paws, but in the end it was completely exhausted, froze and froze all over.
Early in the morning a peasant passed by. He saw a duckling, broke the ice with his wooden shoes, and carried the half-dead bird home to his wife.
The duckling was warmed up.
But then the children decided to play with him, and it seemed to him that they wanted to offend him. The duckling shied away from fear and landed right in the milk pan.
The milk spilled. The hostess screamed and waved her arms, and meanwhile the duckling flew into a tub of oil, and from there into a barrel of flour. Father, what did he look like!
The hostess screamed and chased him with coal tongs, the children ran, knocking each other down, laughing and squealing.
It's good, the door was open - the duckling jumped out, rushed into the bushes, right on the freshly fallen snow, and for a long, long time lay there almost unconscious.
It would be too sad to describe all the troubles and misfortunes of the duckling during this harsh winter. When the sun again warmed the earth with its warm rays, he lay in the swamp, among the reeds.
The larks sang. Spring came! The duckling flapped its wings and flew away. Now the wind hummed in his wings, and they 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 in bloom; fragrant lilacs bent their long green branches over the winding canal.
Oh, how good it was here, how it smelled of spring!
And suddenly three wonderful white swans floated out of the thicket of reeds. They swam so lightly and smoothly, as if they were sliding on the water.
The duckling recognized the beautiful birds, and some incomprehensible sadness seized him.
I'll fly to them, to these majestic birds. They will probably peck me to death because I, being so ugly, dared to approach them. But let! It is better to die from their blows than to endure the plucking of ducks and chickens, the kicks of the poultry keeper, and to endure cold and hunger in winter!
And he sank into the water and swam towards the beautiful swans, who, seeing him, also swam towards him.
Kill me! - said the poor thing and lowered his head low, expecting death, but what did he see in the water, clear as a mirror? Your own reflection.
But he was no longer an ugly dark gray duck, but a swan. It doesn't matter to be born in a duck's nest if you hatched from a swan egg!
Now he was glad that he had endured so much grief and trouble - he could better appreciate his happiness and the splendor that surrounded him.
And big swans swam around and stroked him with their beaks.
Small children ran into the garden. They began to throw bread crumbs and grains to the swans, and the youngest shouted:
The new one has arrived!
And everyone else got it:
New, new!
The children clapped their hands and danced for joy, and then they ran after their father and mother and again began to throw crumbs of bread and cake into the water. Everyone 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 was very happy, but he was not at all proud - a good heart does not know pride; he remembered the time when everyone laughed at him and persecuted him. And now everyone says that he is the most beautiful among the beautiful birds.
The lilac bowed its fragrant branches into the water, the sun shone so warmly, so brightly...
And then his wings rustled, his slender neck straightened, and a jubilant cry escaped from his chest:
No, I never dreamed of such happiness when I was still an ugly duckling!
It was good for the city!
It was summer. The rye turned golden, the oats turned green, the hay was swept into haystacks; a long-legged stork paced the green meadow and chatted in Egyptian, the language he had learned from his mother.
Large forests stretched beyond the fields and meadows, and in the forests there were deep lakes. Yes, it was good for the city!
Directly in the sun lay an old manor, surrounded by deep ditches with water; burdock grew from the walls of the house to the very water, so big that little children could stand upright under the largest leaves. In the thicket of burdock it was deaf and wild, as in the densest forest, and there a duck was sitting on its eggs.
She had to take out ducklings, and she was pretty tired of it, because she had been sitting for a long time and she was rarely visited - other ducks liked to swim in ditches more than sit in mugs and quack with her. Finally, the eggshells crackled.
Pip! Pip! - squeaked inside. All the egg yolks came to life and stuck out their heads.
Quack! Quack! - said the duck. The ducklings quickly climbed out of the shell and began to look around under the green leaves of burdock; mother did not interfere with them - the green color is good for the eyes.
Ah, how great is the world! - said the ducklings.
Still would! It was much more spacious here than in the shell.
Don't you think that the whole world is here? - said the mother. - What is there! It stretches far, far away, over there, beyond the garden, into the field, but I have never been there! .. Well, are you all here?
And she got up.
Oh no, not all. The biggest egg is intact! When will this end! I will soon lose my patience.
And she sat down again.
Well how are you? - asked the old duck, who came to visit her.
Yes, I can’t manage with one egg, ”said the young duck. - Everything does not burst. But look at the little ones! Just beautiful! All, as one, - in the father.
Come on, show me an egg that does not burst, said the old duck. - It must be a turkey egg. That's exactly the same way I was once carried out. Well, I had trouble with these turkeys, I tell you! Couldn't get them into the water. I already quacked and pushed - they don’t go, and that’s all! Come on, show me the egg. And there is! Turkey! Drop it and go teach the kids to swim!
I'll sit still! - said the young duck. - I sat so much that I can sit still.
As you wish! - said the old duck and left.
Finally the big egg burst.
Pip! Pip! - squeaked the chick and fell out of the egg. But how big and ugly he was!
The duck looked at him.
Terribly big! - she said. - And not at all like the others! Isn't that a turkey, really? Well, yes, he will visit me in the water, yes, I will drive him by force!
The next day the weather was wonderful, the green burdock was flooded with sun. The duck with all his family went to the ditch. Bultykh! - and she found herself in the water.
Quack! Quack! she called, and the ducklings, one by one, also floundered into the water. At first the water covered them completely, but they immediately surfaced and swam well forward.
Their paws worked like that, and even the ugly gray duck kept up with the others.
What kind of Indian is this? - said the duck. - Look how nicely he rows with his paws! And how straight it stays! No, he is mine, my dear... Yes, he is not bad at all, as you look at him well. Well, live, live for me! Now I will introduce you to society, I will introduce you to the poultry yard. Just stay close to me so that someone does not step on you, but watch out for cats!
Soon we got to the poultry yard. Fathers! What was that noise!
Two families of ducks fought over one head of eel, and ended up with the cat getting the head.
Here you see how it happens in the world! - said the duck and licked her beak with her tongue - she herself was not averse to tasting the eel head.
Well, well, move your paws! she said to the ducklings. - Grunt and bow to that old duck! She is the best here. She's Spanish and that's why she's so fat. You see, she has a red flap on her paw. How beautiful! This is the highest distinction a duck can receive. This means that they do not want to lose her - both people and animals recognize her by this flap. Well, live! Don't keep your paws inside! A well-bred duckling should turn its paws outward, like father and mother. Like this! Look! Now tilt your head and say, "Quack!"
And so they did. But the other ducks looked at them and said loudly:
Well, here's another whole bunch! Like there weren't enough of us? And what an ugly one! We won't tolerate him!
And immediately one duck flew up and pecked him on the back of the head.
Leave it! said the mother duck. "He didn't do anything to you!"
Suppose, but he is so big and strange! - answered a strange duck. - He needs to be asked well.
You have nice kids! - said the old duck with a red flap on its paw. - All the nice ones, here's just one... This one didn't work out! It would be nice to change it!
It's impossible, your grace! - answered the mother duck. He is not handsome, but he has a good heart. And he swims no worse, I even dare to say - better than others. I think over time it will even out and become smaller. He had lain in the egg for too long, which is why he did not quite succeed.
And she scratched the back of his head and stroked his feathers.
In addition, he is a drake, and a drake does not really need beauty. I think he will get stronger 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.
Here are the ducklings and settled at home. Only the poor duckling, which hatched later than everyone else and was so ugly, was pecked, pushed and teased by absolutely everyone - both ducks and chickens.
Painfully big! they said.
And the Indian rooster, who was born with spurs on his feet and therefore imagined himself an emperor, pouted and, like a ship in full sail, flew up to the duckling, looked at him and clapped angrily; his comb was so full of blood.
The poor duckling simply did not know what to do, where to go. And he should have been born so ugly that the whole poultry yard laughs at him! ..
So the first day passed, and then it got even worse. Everyone drove the poor duckling away, even the brothers and sisters angrily said to him:
If only the cat had dragged you away, you insufferable freak!
And the mother added:
Eyes would not look at you!
Ducks nibbled at him, chickens pecked at him, and the girl who gave the birds food pushed him with her foot.
The duckling could not stand it, ran across the yard - and through the fence! Small birds frightened fluttered out of the bushes.
"That's because I'm so ugly!" - thought the duckling, closed his eyes and set off further.
He ran and ran until he found himself in a swamp where wild ducks lived. Tired and sad, he lay there all night.
In the morning, wild ducks rose from their nests and saw a new comrade.
What is this bird? they asked.
The duckling turned and bowed in all directions as best he could.
Well, you are a monster! said the wild ducks. - However, we do not care, just do not think to intermarry with us.
Poor thing! Where was he to think about it! If only they would let him sit in the reeds and drink marsh water.
He spent two days in the swamp. On the third day, two wild ganders appeared. They had only recently hatched from eggs and therefore were very proud.
Listen, buddy! they said. - You are such a freak that we really like you! Do you want to fly with us and be a free bird? There is another swamp nearby, where pretty wild young geese live. They know how to say: "Ha-ha-ha!" You are such a freak that, what good, you will be successful with them.
Pif! Puff! - there was suddenly heard over the swamp, and both ganders fell dead into the reeds; the water was stained with their blood.
Pif! Puff! - it was heard again, and a whole flock of wild geese rose from the reeds. The firing went. Hunters surrounded the swamp on all sides; some even settled in the branches of trees hanging over the swamp.
Blue smoke clouded the trees and drifted over the water. Hunting dogs ran through the swamp - slap! slap! The reeds and 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 a protruding tongue and sparkling evil eyes appeared right in front of him.
She stuck her mouth to the duckling, bared her sharp teeth and - slap! Slap! - ran further.
“I didn’t touch it,” the duckling thought and took a breath. “It’s obvious that I’m so ugly that it’s disgusting even for a dog to bite me!”
And he hid in the reeds.
Over his head now and then shots whistled, shots rang out. The firing subsided only in the evening, but the duckling was still afraid to move for a long time.
Only a few hours later he dared to get up, looked around and started running further through the fields and meadows. The wind was so strong that the duckling could hardly move.
By nightfall he ran to the poor hut. The hut was so dilapidated that it was ready to fall, but did not know which side, and therefore held on.
The wind picked up the duckling - it was necessary to rest against the ground with its tail. And the wind got stronger.
Then the duckling noticed that the door of the hut had jumped off one hinge and was hanging so crookedly that it was possible to freely slip through the crack into the hut. And 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 let off sparks if you stroke him the wrong way.
The chicken had small, short legs, which is why it was called Short-legged; she diligently laid eggs, and the old woman loved her like a daughter.
In the morning, someone else's duckling was noticed. The cat purred, the chicken clucked.
What's there? - asked the old woman, looked around and noticed a duckling, but due to her blindness she mistook him for a fat duck that had strayed from home.
What a find! - said the old woman. - Now I will have duck eggs, if only it is not a drake. Well, let's see, let's try!
And the duckling was accepted for testing. But three weeks passed, and there were still no eggs.
The cat was the real master of the house, and the chicken was the mistress, and both always said:
We and the whole world!
They considered themselves half of the world, and, moreover, the better half.
True, the duckling believed that one could have a different opinion on this matter. But the chicken didn't.
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 sparkle?
So don't stick around with your opinion when smart people are talking!
And the duckling was sitting in the corner ruffled.
Suddenly he remembered the fresh air and the sun, he terribly wanted to swim. He could not stand it and told the chicken about it.
What's wrong with you? she asked. - You're idle, here's a whim in your head and climbs! Bring some eggs or purr, the nonsense will pass!
Ah, it's so nice to swim! - said the duckling. - It's such a pleasure to dive headfirst into the very depths!
That's so fun! - said the chicken. - You're completely crazy! Ask the cat - he is smarter than anyone I know - if he likes to swim and dive. I'm not talking about myself! Finally, ask our old lady, there is no one smarter than her in the world! Do you think she wants to swim or dive?
You don't understand me, - said the duckling.
If we do not understand, then who will understand you! Do you want to be smarter than the cat and the mistress, not to mention me? Don't be foolish, but be grateful for everything that has been done for you! They sheltered you, warmed you up, you ended up in a society in which you can learn something. But you're an empty head, and it's not worth talking to you. Believe me! I wish you well, therefore I scold you. This is how true friends are always known. Try to lay eggs or learn to purr and sparkle!
I think it's better for me to leave here wherever my eyes look, - said the duckling.
Well, go ahead! - answered the chicken.
And the duckling is gone. 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 turned brown; the wind picked them up and whirled them through the air. It got very cold.
Heavy clouds poured hail and snow on the ground, and a raven sat on the fence and croaked from the cold at the top of his lungs. Brr! You will freeze at the mere thought of such a cold!
It was bad for the poor duckling. Once, in the evening, when the sun was still shining in the sky, a whole flock of beautiful large birds rose from the bushes, the duckling had never seen such beautiful ones: all white as snow, with long, flexible necks.
They were swans.
Having uttered a strange cry, they fluttered their magnificent large wings and flew from the cold meadows to the warm lands, beyond the blue sea. The swans rose high, high, and the poor duckling was seized with an incomprehensible alarm.
He twirled like a top in the water, stretched out his neck and also screamed, but so loudly and strangely that he himself was frightened. Ah, he could not take his eyes off these beautiful happy birds, and when they were completely out of sight, he dived to the very bottom, emerged and seemed to be out of his mind. The duckling did not know the names of these birds, where they fly, but he fell in love with them, just as he had not loved anyone in the world until now.
He did not envy their beauty; it never occurred to him that he could be as handsome as them. He would have been glad, radechonek, if at least the ducks had not repelled him from themselves.
Poor ugly duckling!
Winter has come cold, very cold. The duckling had to swim without rest to keep the water from freezing completely, but every night the hole in which he swam became smaller and smaller.
It was so cold that even the ice crackled. The duckling worked tirelessly with its paws, but in the end it was completely exhausted, froze and froze all over.
Early in the morning a peasant passed by. He saw a duckling, broke the ice with his wooden shoes, and carried the half-dead bird home to his wife.
The duckling was warmed up.
But then the children decided to play with him, and it seemed to him that they wanted to offend him. The duckling shied away from fear and landed right in the milk pan.
The milk spilled. The hostess screamed and waved her arms, and meanwhile the duckling flew into a tub of oil, and from there into a barrel of flour. Father, what did he look like!
The hostess screamed and chased him with coal tongs, the children ran, knocking each other down, laughing and squealing.
It's good, the door was open - the duckling jumped out, rushed into the bushes, right on the freshly fallen snow, and for a long, long time lay there almost unconscious.
It would be too sad to describe all the troubles and misfortunes of the duckling during this harsh winter. When the sun again warmed the earth with its warm rays, he lay in the swamp, among the reeds.
The larks sang. Spring came! The duckling flapped its wings and flew away. Now the wind hummed in his wings, and they 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 in bloom; fragrant lilacs bent their long green branches over the winding canal.
Oh, how good it was here, how it smelled of spring!
And suddenly three wonderful white swans floated out of the thicket of reeds. They swam so lightly and smoothly, as if they were sliding on the water.
The duckling recognized the beautiful birds, and some incomprehensible sadness seized him.
I'll fly to them, to these majestic birds. They will probably peck me to death because I, being so ugly, dared to approach them. But let! It is better to die from their blows than to endure the plucking of ducks and chickens, the kicks of the poultry keeper, and to endure cold and hunger in winter!
And he sank into the water and swam towards the beautiful swans, who, seeing him, also swam towards him.
Kill me! - said the poor thing and lowered his head low, expecting death, but what did he see in the water, clear as a mirror? Your own reflection.
But he was no longer an ugly dark gray duck, but a swan. It doesn't matter to be born in a duck's nest if you hatched from a swan egg!
Now he was glad that he had endured so much grief and trouble - he could better appreciate his happiness and the splendor that surrounded him.
And big swans swam around and stroked him with their beaks.
Small children ran into the garden. They began to throw bread crumbs and grains to the swans, and the youngest shouted:
The new one has arrived!
And everyone else got it:
New, new!
The children clapped their hands and danced for joy, and then they ran after their father and mother and again began to throw crumbs of bread and cake into the water. Everyone 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 was very happy, but he was not at all proud - a good heart does not know pride; he remembered the time when everyone laughed at him and persecuted him. And now everyone says that he is the most beautiful among the beautiful birds.
The lilac bowed its fragrant branches into the water, the sun shone so warmly, so brightly...
And then his wings rustled, his slender neck straightened, and a jubilant cry escaped from his chest:
No, I never dreamed of such happiness when I was still an ugly duckling!
Who among us has not admired the proud and graceful birds - swans. These majestic and snow-white beauties with excellent posture immediately resemble the fairy tale of the Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen "The Ugly Duckling". This work is simply amazing! The story of an ugly duckling that turned into a beautiful swan touched the souls of many children and adults. The great storyteller was able to very deeply and sensually describe all the adventures of the poor, unfortunate chick, until he turned into a majestic bird.
The world of fairy tales of the great Danish master
Since childhood, most recognize the author of "The Ugly Duckling" - Hans Christian Andersen. The world of his fairy tales is very diverse. "The Snow Queen", "The Little Mermaid", "The Princess and the Pea", "The Nightingale", "Wild Swans" are real masterpieces that are known all over the world. Many characters in Andersen's fairy tales became household names during the lifetime of the writer himself. Hans Christian did not consider himself a children's writer; many of his works raise very deep problems for adults. What are they, the tales of the author of "The Ugly Duckling"?
Among huge amount Andersen's works there are many creations with happy ending which children love very much. Also in the collection there are serious stories that only adults can understand. The minds of children and their parents are mesmerizing beautiful story called "Thumbelina" about a tiny girl who grew up in a flower bud. The motive of the miraculous transformation of heroes is a favorite in the fairy tales of Hans Christian. So, in the fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea" readers see an inconspicuous girl who has become a princess.
True love and self-sacrifice is depicted by the writer in the fairy tale "Wild Swans". The girl Eliza, at the risk of her life, saves her brothers from the spell of an evil stepmother. This piece is more dramatic. But the story of the young Mermaid, who sacrificed her life for the sake of her beloved prince, is filled with a special tragedy. great strength genuine art showed Andersen in the fairy tale "The Nightingale". The ostentatious grandeur and spiritual emptiness was reflected by the writer in the work "The King's New Dress". It is impossible to imagine the fairy tales of the great Dane without a mysterious little man who gives obedient children beautiful dreams- Ole Lukoye.
The concept of a literary fairy tale
The creative heritage of H. H. Andersen is mainly made up of literary fairy tales. They brought the author of "The Ugly Duckling" world fame. At first, the Writer retold some folk tales, and then he began to create his own works in this genre. A literary fairy tale is a narrative genre that has magical and fantastic content, fictional or real characters, fabulous or real reality. Writers raised in these writings moral, aesthetic, social problems society.
The early fairy tales of G. H. Andersen are similar to the works of the Brothers Grimm: they have a simple and natural intonation of folk narration. His first collection was called "Tales told to children", where there are a lot of similarities with folklore. As a basis for the collection, he took 10 tales that he was told in childhood. From these works, readers discover the beauty and spiritual essence of the world.
What is the main author's credo of the author of "The Ugly Duckling"? The writer appreciates sincere souls and immediate feelings. In the images of the tragic aspects of life, goodness still prevails. Andersen believes that the divine principle always wins in the person himself. The storyteller himself believed very much in a good God. He believed that every event in a person's life indicates that he belongs to the Lord. According to the writer, only he will see the light and become better who will survive many trials and hardships in life.
The most voluminous literary fairy tale by Hans Christian is "The Snow Queen". In it, the author touches on very deep issues. The main thing that the storyteller showed is the all-conquering power of love, capable of overcoming any obstacles. The brave girl Gerda not only saved her brother Kai from the palaces snow queen but also gave him back his good heart.
The difficult fate of the writer and autobiographical moments in the fairy tale
In Denmark there is an ancient town of Odense. It was there that the author of The Ugly Duckling, Hans Christian Andersen, was born in 1805. His father was a simple shoemaker. He lived in a poor apartment, was surrounded by ordinary people, ate the meager products. But he saw miracles in the simplest things, he loved to listen to the stories of older people. Often he stared at theater posters. He made homemade dolls and acted out entire performances.
Such fantasies led Hans to theatrical activity. He arranged puppet show right at home. He wrote scripts himself, made scenery and paper costumes. After the funeral of his father in 1819, the young man moved to the capital of Denmark - Copenhagen. Dreaming of becoming happy, he tries to fulfill his dream and become an actor. Kind people helped him get into high school. The fourteen-year-old boy had to sit at a desk with students much younger than him. A lot of ridicule and humiliation from classmates flew at Andersen's address. Hans passed the test and graduated from the gymnasium. Then he entered the university. It was this period from his life that the writer depicted in the book "The Ugly Duckling".
As a famous master of the word, Andersen himself understood that he was benefiting the world. Therefore, he felt happy. Each new fairy tale brought a lot of joyful emotions to his readers. Hans Christian began to read fairy tales himself before ordinary people. He was not at all ashamed of his lower origin, but, on the contrary, wanted his books to be read by children from the same poor families as himself. Most of all, the writer hated the empty, ignorant, boastful and lazy representatives of high society.
Noble persons, whom Andersen ridiculed in his books, were unhappy with his caustic ridicule. They could not understand how the shoemaker's son could play a trick on them. After all, he even has a surname of low origin. Only on his 50th birthday the author was recognized in his hometown of Odense. On the day he was awarded the title of honorary citizen, the townspeople lit the illumination.
Hans Christian published his fairy tale in 1843. Many children wonder who wrote "The Ugly Duckling" and this is not surprising. After all, the problems raised by Andersen in this tale are relevant today. Anna Ganzen translated it into Russian. In accordance with the plot and semantic sections of the tale, the work "The Ugly Duckling" can be divided into five parts:
- The hard life of a duckling in the poultry yard. It was on a sunny summer day. .
In one old estate, among the fluffy leaves of burdock, mother duck hatched ducklings. It is already becoming clear that the heroes of the "Ugly Duckling" are animals. The little kids looked at the big leaves around them with delight. The duck reassured the children that the world is much larger than these plants, and she herself has not yet seen all of it. An experienced duck approached the young mother and asked about the situation? Mom was happy with her cubs, only one chick from the largest egg still could not hatch. The ducks decided that a turkey egg had accidentally fallen into the nest. Finally, this moment has come. From the last egg a chick appeared, which was very different from the others, even the mother did not like it. She decided to see if he could swim like all the other ducklings.
- Beginning of wanderings. Duckling meeting with real friends. One sunny day the whole family went to the lake. All the kids were yellow. There was only one last gray color, but swam no worse than the others. After bathing, the duck decided to show off her brood and took everyone to the poultry yard to show it to the "society". Before that, she taught the children how to behave in front of the inhabitants of the courtyard, to bow to them. And what were the residents of the courtyard? The ducklings watched as they fought over the head of a fish thrown to them by their owners. Standing in the yard terrible scream. Then one duck of the Spanish breed positively evaluated new family. Only one, the most "absurd" cub, irritated her and everyone else. The mother duck first came to the gray duck's defense, saying that it would outgrow it and become a prominent drake. Then all the kids went to play. Everyone wanted to offend the gray duckling. They kept pecking at him. Over time, even his brothers, sisters and mother hated him. The duckling was exhausted from humiliation and ridicule. He didn't know how to get out of this situation. The only salvation for him was to run away from home.
- Meeting with geese. The duckling somehow managed to get over the fence. There he immediately met wild ducks, they also began to make fun of his unsightly appearance and worry that he would not ask for them to be relatives. A few days later, two important ganders flew to the lake. Appearance new one seemed funny to them, and they even decided to show it to their wives. Only this was not destined to come true: the hunters began to shoot at the geese, and two new friends were dead. Then a hunting dog ran to the lake to collect prey. The gray duckling was very frightened. But even the dog did not like him: she did not touch the chick. In fear, he sat in the reeds until the evening, and then decided to run away.
- The suffering of a duckling in a harsh winter. The poor chick wandered all day long. Finally he saw the hut. An old woman, a chicken and a cat lived in it. The hostess decided to keep the chick at home, hoping that he would lay eggs. The cat and the hen chuckled at the duckling in every possible way, but he never laid eggs. Once the chick felt that he was very drawn to swim, so he went to live by the lake. Once there he saw very beautiful birds. They were swans. They screamed and the chick screamed back. To approach important birds he hesitated, fearing that they would reject him like everyone else. And here came Cold winter. In order not to freeze, the duckling had to constantly swim. But this did not save the poor man. He was completely exhausted and froze to the ice. One farmer saw a duckling and took it home. AT new environment the chick was not used to it. He was afraid of the little children who wanted to play with him. Running away from them, the duckling spilled milk and got dirty in flour. He had to spend the winter in the bushes by the lake. It was cold and hungry.
- Spring awakening and unexpected transformation of a duckling. One spring, the chick got out of the reeds and flew. Near the blossoming apple trees, he suddenly noticed proud and beautiful white swans. The duckling is sad. But then, remembering all his wanderings, he decided to approach these birds, even if they pecked him. The duckling descended into the water and began to swim quietly towards the flock of swans, and they swam towards him. The duckling sullenly lowered its head in front of the swans with the expectation that it would be killed. And suddenly he saw his reflection in the water. Who was the ugly duckling? It was a beautiful majestic swan! Other birds swam past the handsome young man and stroked him with their long beaks. They gladly accepted him into their flock. Children came running, began to throw pieces of bread to the birds and called the new one the most beautiful swan. Previously, the duckling did not even dream of such happiness.
That's it summary"Ugly duckling". A sad story with a happy ending.
Analysis of "The Ugly Duckling": Genre, Theme, Writer's Style
It is believed that in this tale Andersen veiled his biography. The very name of the creation is very unusual and is an oxymoron. One and the same hero is both ugly and beautiful. Who wrote "The Ugly Duckling" and in connection with what - is already clear. What genre is the work written in? Of course, this literary tale. But she has others distinctive features. There are motifs of myth in it, since the theme of the exile was very close to ancient myths. Very often the hero of such works cannot control his own destiny - he is dominated by other forces.
Fairy duckling acts as a representative wildlife, which instinctively survives even in the harshest conditions. Wild natures are desperately fighting for existence. The reason for the expulsion of the duckling was not its ugly appearance, but that it was different from the others. No one knows how the swan egg ended up in the nest. The author shows what tests the hero had to go through before everyone began to admire his beauty. main theme"The ugly duckling" is the struggle between good and evil. The transformation of a nondescript chick into a snow-white handsome man is only a shell, but not the main meaning of the tale. Andersen showed that the soul of a little duckling is open to love and kindness.
There is a special dynamism in the author's style. All events develop with special tension. For a skillful and lively narration, the writer uses a wide variety of phrases: "they fell dead", "the reeds stirred", "the hunters surrounded", "the fog shrouded", "the reeds swayed".
Psychological coloring of a fairy tale
The work "The Ugly Duckling" is very unusual. Andersen not only shows the fate of the hero, but describes him state of mind in different situations. He did this with monologues. The duckling is constantly thinking about why he is so ugly. The author shows him either tired or sad. Shown especially clearly psychological condition duckling at the moment of transformation into a beautiful swan. His joy knew no bounds. Andersen's fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling" is very sensual, it overwhelms readers with feelings for the little hero.
Idea and problems of the work
The hero of Andersen's book "The Ugly Duckling" had to suffer and humiliate himself a lot, but after going through such a lonely and difficult life, he was able to truly appreciate his happiness. The ideological meaning of the tale is expressed by the following concepts:
- In life, not everything is simple and easy, sometimes there are suffering and joy, rudeness and beauty.
- For a sharp perception of happiness, a person needs wandering and suffering.
- The sensitivity of the soul and inner talent are necessarily rewarded by fate.
- Nobility and generosity manifests itself after suffering and unexpected happiness. After all, this taught the duckling to forgive his offenders.
It should be noted that in allegorical form, the tale shows the struggle that Andersen had to wage on his way to glory.
Conclusions about the personality of the author himself
The name of the fairy tale has long grown into a metaphor. Such a common term as "ugly duckling" is called unsightly teenagers, whose appearance is still being formed. From this autobiographical tale, the following conclusions emerge about Andersen:
- The writer, like his hero, suffered a lot of suffering, misunderstanding and ridicule of rude people.
- Andersen had a very vulnerable and sensitive soul.
- Like the hero of a fairy tale, the author was a generous person, forgiving his offenders and enemies.
- Andersen had a great faith in the victory of goodness, beauty and justice.
The fairy tale is one of the kindest and most wonderful fairy tales written by G.Kh. Andersen. After all, there is absolutely no “darkness” in it, which is why Western European fairy tales are so different. Only life. And probably, the kids love her also because in the finale everything ends well, and the ugly duckling becomes a beautiful swan. Be sure to take the time to read The Ugly Duckling to your child. Of course, who wants to - then you can watch the cartoon "The Ugly Duckling" online, but not a single cartoon can awaken in a kid such a fantasy as a read loving parents story. Therefore, be sure to read!
G.H. Andersen
How nice it was in the summer outside the city! In the fields, rye began to turn golden, oats turned green, hay was swept into stacks; a long-legged stork paced the green meadow and chatted in Egyptian, the language his mother had taught him. Behind the meadows and fields a large forest darkened, and far away in the forest hid deep blue Lakes. Yes, how nice it was in the summer outside the city! Surrounded by deep ditches with water, the old manor was illuminated by the gentle sun. All over the land from the house to the water itself - burdock grew, and so tall that under the largest leaves of burdock it could stand in full height Small children.
In the thickets of burdock one could feel like in a dense forest, just as deaf and wild. And it was there, in silence, that the duck settled on the eggs. The duck has been sitting for a long time, and therefore such an occupation bored her. She was completely alone for a long time, other ducks rarely came to her, because they liked swimming and diving more than sitting with her in the thickets of burdock and quacking.
But then, finally, the shells of the testicles crackled.
Ducklings stirred in their testicles, they stuck out their heads, clattered their beaks.
- Pip, pip!
- Crack, crack! - the mother duck answered the ducklings. - Come on, hurry up!
The ducklings somehow got out of the shell, and began to look around, looking at the leaves of burdock. Mata duck did not interfere with them - the green color of burdock is good for the eyes.
Oh, how big the world is! - said the ducks. Well, of course! After all, now they were much freer than in their shell.
- Quack! Have you already decided that this is the whole world? said the duck. - Yes you! The world stretches far, far away, beyond the field, beyond the garden... But, to be honest, I myself have never been there in my life!.. Well, has everyone got out yet? And the duck rose to its feet, ready to go. “Oh no, not yet… Unfortunately, the biggest egg is still intact!” When will this suffering end? Soon I will lose my patience.
And the duck sat down on the egg again.
- How are you? asked the old duck, which had stuck its head into the middle of the thicket of burdock.
“Everything would be fine, but it’s impossible to cope with one egg,” the young duck answered her. “I’ve been sitting and sitting, but it still doesn’t want to burst. But those babies that hatched are just wonderful! Well, everyone, as one, looks like a father! And he, be it wrong, never even visited me here!
“Wait, let’s first look at the egg that doesn’t want to burst,” the old duck tells her. - What good, isn’t it turkey? Of course, it looks like a turkey! I was also taken that way once. Added turkey eggs. And how much I then had to endure with these turkey poults! After all, you can’t even drag them into a ditch - they are so afraid of water. I already hissed at them, and quacked, and tried to push them into the water by force - but they don’t go, and that’s all. Let's have another look. Well, exactly! Turkey egg! Leave it here and go teach other kids how to swim!
“Perhaps I’ll sit still,” answered the young duck. “I have endured for so long that now I can endure a little more.
- Well, sit down! - said the old duck to her and left. But then, finally, the big egg cracked.
The chick squeaked - Pip! Pip! and fell out of the shell.
But how ugly and big he was! The duck looked at him from all sides and fluttered its wings.
— Terrible freak! - she said. And he is absolutely different from the others! Could it really be a turkey? Well, never mind, he will still visit me in the water, even if I have to push him there by force!
The next day the weather was wonderful, and the thickets of green burdock were simply flooded with sun.
The duck went to the ditch with all his family. Bultykh! - and the duck was the first to be in the water.
- Quack-quack! Alive! Behind me! she called to the ducklings, and one by one, one by one, they also plunged into the water.
The water at first covered them completely, but they quickly surfaced and miraculously swam forward. The ducklings' paws worked like that, and they raked it. And the ugly gray duckling did not lag behind the others either.
- Well, no, what kind of turkey is he? said the duck to herself. - Look, how nicely he rows with his paws! And how straight he is! No, he is not a turkey, he is my own son. Yes, perhaps, he is not so scary at all, if you take a good look at him. Well, quickly follow me! Now I will introduce you to society for the first time - we will all go to the poultry yard together. Just stay close to me so that someone doesn’t crush you, and beware of cats!
Soon the duck, along with all its brood, hobbled to the poultry yard. What was that noise! Oh my God! Two duck families fought desperately over an eel head. But in the end, this head did not go to one of them, but to a cat.
- This is how it always happens in life! - the duck said to the kids and licked its beak with its tongue, - after all, she herself would not refuse to taste the heads of the eel. - Come on, come on, move your paws! she commanded the ducklings, turning to them. - Now grunt and bow to this old duck! She is the most important here. Because she is a Spanish breed, and also the fattest. You see, she has a red patch tied on her paw! That's very beautiful! This is the highest distinction a duck can receive. This means that the owners do not want to lose it - everyone will immediately recognize it by this shred: both animals and people. Well, quickly! Don't keep your paws together! A well-bred duckling should turn its paws outward. See. Like this! Now tilt your heads and say: “Quack!”
As the ducks were told, so they did.
But then other ducks looked at them and spoke loudly:
“Well, here’s another whole horde dragged along!” As if we weren't enough without them! And this one is ugly! Well, we will not tolerate this duckling!
And one duck immediately flew up and pecked the duckling on the neck.
- Leave him alone! said mother duck. "He didn't do anything to you!"
- So what! But he is kind of big and very awkward! the angry duck hissed. “And so it doesn’t hurt to teach him a little lesson.
And the duck with a red patch tied on its foot said:
- You have nice kids! They are all very, very nice, except perhaps for one... This poor fellow didn't work out! It would be nice to have it redone.
"Your Grace, that's impossible!" the mother duck replied. It is true that he is ugly, but he has a good heart. And he knows how to swim no worse, even better than others. It seems to me that over time it will line up with the rest and become smaller. He just lay in the egg for too long, and probably because he outgrew a little. - And the duck smoothed out the feathers on the back of the ugly duckling with its beak. - And besides everything else, he is a drake, and beauty is not so important for a drake. It seems to me that he will grow up very strong and will be able to make his way in life.
— I don't know. And all the other ducklings are very, very cute! said the noble duck. - Well, make yourself comfortable, make yourself at home, and if you accidentally find an eel head, you can bring it to me.
And the ducklings, as they were advised, began to behave at home. And only the poor ugly duckling, which hatched from the egg later than the others, was not given a pass. He was pushed, pecked and teased even by chickens, and not just ducks.
- Too big! they said.
And the Indian rooster, born with spurs on his feet, who imagined himself almost an emperor, suddenly pouted and flew right up to the duckling, as if a ship in full sail, then looked at him and murmured angrily; his comb was engorged with blood. And the poor ugly duckling simply did not know where to go and what to do. And he managed to be born so ugly that the whole poultry yard laughs at him!
Thus passed the first day of the life of the ugly duckling in the common yard, and then it got even worse. Everyone drove the poor duckling away, even the sisters and brothers said angrily to him: “If only the cat had dragged you away, you insufferable freak!” And the mother added at the same time: “My eyes would not look at you!” Ducks nibbled him, chickens pecked at him, and the girl who fed the birds with food pushed him away with her foot.
And one day the duckling could not stand it. He ran across the entire yard, somehow rolled over the fence right into the thorny bushes, spreading his clumsy wings.
Small birds sitting on the branches immediately scattered in different directions.
“They are because I am so ugly,” thought the duckling, and then screwed up his eyes and rushed to run to no one knows where. He ran all the way to the swamp where the wild ducks lived.
In this swamp he spent the whole night. The poor duckling was very sad and very tired.
In the morning, wild ducks woke up in their nests, and immediately saw a new comrade.
- What is this bird? they asked. The duckling bowed as best he could and turned in all directions.
— What same you ugly! the wild ducks said to the duckling. - However, it is absolutely indifferent to us, just do not go into our relatives.
Poor thing! The ugly duckling didn't even think about it! He could only dream of being allowed to live in the reeds and drink marsh water.
So he sat in the swamp for two whole days. On the third day, two wild ganders flew into the swamp. They were very proud, because they had only recently learned.
- Buddy! they said. “Look, you're so weird it's fun to look at. Do you want to be friends with us? We are free birds - wherever we want, we fly there. There is still a swamp nearby, very cute wild young geese live there. They know how to say: “Rap! Rap! And you're so funny that you'll probably be a big hit with them.
Pif! Puff! - suddenly there was a sound over the swamp, and both ganders fell dead into the reeds, and the water turned red with blood.
Pif! Puff! - it was heard again, and a whole flock of wild geese rose above the swamp. The shot followed one after another. Hunters surrounded the swamp from all sides; some of them climbed trees and fired from above. The tops of the trees were shrouded in clouds and blue smoke drifted over the water. Hunting dogs roamed the swamp. All that was heard was: slap-slap! And the reeds swayed from side to side. The poor ugly duckling was neither alive nor dead from fear. He was about to hide his head under his wing, when suddenly a hunting dog with a protruding tongue and sparkling evil eyes appeared right in front of him. She looked at the ugly duckling, showed her sharp teeth and - lo and behold - slap-slap! - ran further.
“It seems to have passed,” thought the duckling, and breathed a sigh of relief. “It can be seen that I really am so ugly that even a dog is disgusted to eat me!”
And the duckling hid in the reeds. And over his head now and then shots were heard, shots whistled.
The firing subsided only towards evening, but the ugly duckling was afraid to move for a long time.
So several hours passed. Finally, he got up, looked around cautiously, and started running further through the meadows and fields.
A headwind was blowing so strong that the duckling could hardly move its paws.
By nightfall, the duckling reached a small wretched hut. The hut was already so dilapidated that it was quite ready to fall, but did not know which side to fall on, and therefore held on.
The wind picked up the duckling, so he had to cling to the very ground so that he would not be carried away.
Fortunately, the duckling noticed that the door of the hut had completely jumped off one hinge and was so warped that it was easy to get inside through the gap. And the ugly duckling made his way.
In this hut lived an old woman with her chicken and cat. The old woman called the cat Sonny; The cat could arch its back and purr. And sometimes even pour sparks around him, but for this it was necessary to stroke him against the wool. And the Hen was called Short-legged, because she had short little legs. She diligently and regularly laid eggs, and the old woman loved her like her own daughter.
In the morning, the owners of the house noticed the duckling. The chicken began to cackle and the cat began to purr.
- What happened there? the old woman asked. She looked around and noticed an ugly duckling in the corner, but at first she blindly mistook the duckling for a fat duck that had strayed from its home.
- What a lucky find! said the old woman. “Now I will always have duck eggs as well, unless of course it’s just a drake.” And the old woman decided to keep this homeless bird at home. But three whole weeks passed, and there were still no eggs from the duck.
In fact, the cat was the real owner of the house, and the chicken was the mistress. They both always said: “We and the whole world!” They considered themselves half, and, moreover, the best half, of the whole world. It seemed to the duckling, however, that another opinion could be held on this score. But the chicken didn't allow it. She asked the duckling:
- Can you lay eggs?
"Then keep your tongue tied!" And the cat asked:
- Do you know how to arch your back, throw sparks and purr?
“Then don’t poke your nose with your opinion when smart people are talking!”
And the ugly duckling was sitting in the corner, fluffed up.
One day the door opened wide, and a bright sunbeam and a stream of water burst into the room. fresh air. The duckling wanted to swim so much, he was so drawn to freedom that he could not resist and told the hen about it.
“Well, what nonsense are you thinking up?” The chicken pounced on him. “Because you are messing around, all sorts of nonsense gets into your head!” Bring it on better eggs or purring, at worst, the foolishness will pass right away!
- You do not understand! It's so nice to swim! said the ugly duckling to her. - It's such a pleasure to dive headfirst into the very depths!
- Well, he said! That's so much fun! the chicken replied. “You seem to be completely out of your mind!” Better ask the cat - he is the most reasonable of all whom I know - does he like to dive and swim? I am not talking about myself anymore. Ask our old lady, finally. There is probably no one smarter than her! She will tell you exactly if she likes to dive head first into the very depths!
"You don't understand me at all!" said the ugly duckling.
“If we don’t understand you, then no one will understand you!” You obviously want to be smarter than our lady and the cat, not to mention me! Don't be stupid, and be grateful to us for everything we've done for you! After all, they warmed you, sheltered you, you ended up in a society in which you can learn something. But you're an empty head, and it's not worth talking to you. Believe me! I wish you well, therefore I scold you. That's what true friends always do. Try to lay eggs, or learn to throw sparks and purr!
“I think it’s better for me to get out of here wherever my eyes look!” said the ugly duckling.
- Well, go yourself! the hen replied.
And the duckling is gone. He lived alone on the lake, he swam and dived upside down, but everyone around him still laughed at him and called him ugly and ugly.
In the meantime, autumn has arrived. The leaves on the trees turned brown and yellowed. They fell from the branches, and the wind picked up the leaves and whirled them through the air. It got very cold. Heavy clouds sowed snow and then hail on the ground. Even the raven, sitting on the fence, croaked at the top of his lungs from the cold. Brr! At the mere thought of such a cold, you will freeze!
The poor duck had a bad time.
One evening, when the sun was still shining in the sky, a whole flock of large wonderful birds rose from behind the forest. The ugly duckling has never seen such beautiful birds - they were all white as snow, with long flexible necks ...
They were swans.
The cry of the swans was like the sound of a trumpet. They spread their mighty wide wings and flew from the cold meadows over the blue seas, to warm lands ... Now they had already risen high, and the ugly duckling was still looking after them, and some kind of incomprehensible anxiety seized him. He spun in the water like a top, then stretched out his neck and also screamed, but so loudly and strangely that he himself was frightened of it. He could not take his eyes off these beautiful birds, and when they finally completely disappeared from sight, he dived to the very bottom, then swam out again, and yet for a long time he could not come to his senses. The ugly duckling did not know the names of these birds, did not know where they flew, but already fell in love with them, as he had not loved anyone in the world until now. He did not envy their beauty. It never occurred to him that he, too, could be as handsome as them.
He would have been happy, happy, if at least the ducks had not pushed him away from themselves. Poor ugly duckling!
A cold, very cold winter has come. The ugly duckling had to swim around the lake without rest to keep the water from completely freezing, but every night the hole in which he swam was still getting smaller and smaller. The frost was so strong that even the ice crackled. The duckling tirelessly worked with its paws. At the end of the night, he was completely exhausted, stretched out on the ice and froze.
Fortunately, early in the morning a peasant passed by him. He saw a duckling frozen to the ice, broke the ice with his wooden shoe and carried the half-dead bird home to his wife.
The houses of the ugly duckling were warmed up.
The children wanted to play with him, but it seemed to the duckling that they wanted to offend him. From fear, he shied away into a corner and fell directly into a bucket of milk. Milk flowed across the floor. The hostess threw up her hands, and the duckling began to rush around the room, flew into a tub of oil, and then immediately into a barrel of flour. You can easily imagine what he looked like!
The hostess scolded the ugly duckling and chased him with coal tongs, the children laughed and squealed, ran, knocking each other down. It's good that the door to the street was open - the duckling jumped out, spreading its wings, rushed into the bushes, right on the freshly fallen snow, and for a long, long time lay almost unconscious there.
It would be too sad to tell you about all the troubles and misfortunes that befell the ugly duckling in this harsh winter.
But finally, the winter ended and the sun again warmed the earth with its warm rays. The larks rang in the fields. Spring has returned!
The ugly duckling got out of the reeds, where he hid all winter, flapped his wings and flew. His wings were now much stronger than before, they made a noise and lifted him high above the ground. Before the duckling had time to come to his senses, he had already flown to a large garden. Everything was in bloom, there were apple trees, fragrant lilacs bent their long green branches over the winding canal. Oh, how it smelled of spring here, how good it was!
And suddenly three wonderful white swans emerged from the very thicket of reeds. They swam so smoothly and easily, as if they were sliding on the water. The ugly duckling immediately recognized these beautiful birds, and some incomprehensible sadness seized him.
“I will fly to these majestic birds. They will probably peck me to death because I, being so nasty, dared to approach them. But I don't care anymore! It is better to die from the blows of these beautiful birds than to endure the plucking of chickens and ducks, the kicks of the poultry keeper, and to endure hunger and cold in winter!”
And the ugly duckling landed on the water and swam towards the beautiful swans, and the swans saw him, waved their wings and swam straight towards him.
- Kill me! said the ugly duckling to them, and bowed his head low.
And suddenly, in a clear, like a mirror, water, he saw his own reflection. And oh, miracle! He was no longer an ugly dark gray duck, but a beautiful white swan!
Now the duckling was even glad that he had to endure so much trouble and grief. He had endured a lot in his life and therefore could now better appreciate his happiness. And the big swans swam around him and stroked him with their beaks.
At this time, the children ran into the garden. They began to throw grain and pieces of bread to the swans, and the youngest of them saw the former duckling and shouted:
The new one has arrived! The new one has arrived! And all the other children after him picked up:
Yes, new, new!
The children danced for joy and clapped their hands. Then they ran after their mother and father and again began to throw pieces of bread and cake into the water.
Both adults and children said:
— Look, the new swan is the best! He is so young and handsome!
And the old swans bowed their heads before him. And he was completely embarrassed and from embarrassment hid his head under his wing, not knowing why. He remembered the time when everyone laughed at the poor ugly duckling and chased him away. But now it was all over. Now people say that it is he who is the most beautiful among the beautiful swans. And the lilac bends its fragrant branches towards him into the water, and the sun caresses him with its warm rays ... And then his wings rustled, his slender neck straightened, and a jubilant cry escaped from his chest:
- No, I didn’t even dream of such happiness when I was still an ugly duckling!
It was good for the city! It was summer. The rye was already golden in the fields, the oats were turning green, the hay was swept into haystacks;
a long-legged stork paced the green meadow and chatted in Egyptian, the language he had learned from his mother. Behind the fields and meadows, a large forest darkened, and deep blue lakes hid in the forest. Yes, it was good for the city! The sun illuminated the old manor, surrounded by deep ditches with water. The whole earth - from the walls of the house to the water itself - was overgrown with burdock, so high that small children could stand under its largest leaves to their full height.
In the thicket of burdock it was as deaf and wild as in a dense forest, and there a duck was sitting on its eggs. She had been sitting for a long time, and she was tired of this occupation. Moreover, she was rarely visited - other ducks liked to swim in the grooves more than to sit in the burdock and quack with her.
Finally, the eggshells crackled.
The ducklings stirred, clattered their beaks and stuck out their heads.
Pip, pip! they said.
Crack, crack! - answered the duck. - Hurry up!
The ducklings somehow got out of the shell and began to look around, looking at the green leaves of burdock. The mother did not interfere with them - the green color is good for the eyes.
Ah, how great is the world! - said the ducklings. Still would! Now they were much more spacious than in the shell.
Don't you think that the whole world is here? - said the mother. - What is there! It stretches far, far away, over there, beyond the garden, beyond the field ... But, to tell the truth, I have never been there in my life! .. Well, has everyone got out yet? Jonah got to her feet. - Oh no, that's not all... The biggest egg is intact! When will this end! I will soon lose my patience.
And she sat down again.
Well how are you? - asked the old duck, sticking its head into the thicket of burdock.
Why, I can’t cope with one egg, ”said the young duck. - I sit, I sit, but it still does not burst. But look at those babies that have already hatched. Just beautiful! All as one - in the father! And he, unfit, did not even visit me even once!
Wait, show me first that egg that does not burst, said the old duck. - Isn't it turkey, what good? Well, yes, of course! .. That's exactly the same way I was once tricked. 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 drive them into a ditch. Already I hissed, and quacked, and simply pushed them into the water - they don’t go, and that’s all. Let me take another look. Well, it is! Turkey! Throw him away and go teach your kids to swim!
No, I, perhaps, will sit, - said the young duck. I've endured so much that I can endure a little more.
Well, sit! - said the old duck and left. And finally, the big egg cracked.
Pip! Pip! - squeaked the chick and fell out of the shell.
But how big and ugly he was! The duck looked at him from all sides and fluttered its wings.
Terrible freak! - she said. - And not at all like the others! Is it really a turkey? Well, yes, he will visit me in the water, 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 with all his family went to the ditch. Bultykh! - and she found herself in the water.
Quack-quack! Behind me! Alive! she called, and the ducklings, one by one, also flopped into the water.
At first the water covered them completely, but they immediately surfaced and swam well forward. Paws they have earned, and earned. Even the ugly gray duckling kept up with the others.
What kind of Indian is this? - said the duck. - Look how nicely he rows with 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, live, live for me! I will now introduce you to society - we will go to the poultry yard. Just stay close to me so that someone does not step on you, but watch out for cats!
Soon the duck with all its brood reached the poultry yard. Oh my God! What was that noise! Two families of ducks fought over an eel head. 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 the eel head. - Well, well, move your paws! she commanded, turning to the ducklings. - Grunt and bow to that old duck! She is the best here. She's Spanish and that's why she's 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 do not want to lose it - both people and animals immediately recognize it by this shred. Well, live! Don't keep your paws together! A well-bred duckling should turn its paws outward. Like this! See. Now tilt your heads and say, "Quack!"
The ducks did just that.
But other ducks looked at them and spoke loudly:
Well, here's another whole bunch! Without them, there weren't enough of us! And one is ugly! We will never tolerate this!
And immediately one duck flew up and pecked at his neck.
Leave it! said the mother duck. "He didn't do anything to you!"
Let's assume it is. But he's kind of big and awkward! - the angry duck hissed. - Do not interfere with his a little lesson.
And a noble duck with a red patch on its paw said:
You have nice kids! Everyone is very, very nice, except for one, perhaps ... The poor fellow did not succeed! It would be nice to change it.
It's impossible, your grace! - answered the mother duck. - He's not handsome - it's true, but he has a good heart. And he swims no worse, I even dare to say - better than others. I think over time it will even out and become smaller. He had lain in the egg for too long and therefore outgrew 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 into 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 now the ducklings began to behave like at home. Only the poor duckling, which hatched later than the others and was so ugly, no one gave 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 feet and therefore imagined himself almost an emperor, pouted and, like a ship in full sail, flew right up to the duckling, looked at him and babbled angrily; his comb was so full of blood. The poor duckling simply did not know what to do, where to go. And he should have been born so ugly that the whole poultry yard laughs at him!
So the first day passed, and then it got even worse. Everyone drove the poor duckling away, even the 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 at him, the chickens pecked at him, and the girl who fed the birds pushed him away with her foot.
Finally, the duckling could not stand it. He ran across the yard and, spreading his clumsy wings, somehow rolled over the fence right into the thorny bushes.
The little birds sitting on the branches fluttered at once and scattered in different directions.
“It’s because I’m so ugly,” thought the duckling, and, closing his eyes, he rushed to run, not knowing where he was. 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.
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