Гадкий утёнок

           Itwassobeautifuloutonthecountry, itwassummer-thewheatfieldsweregolden, theoatsweregreen, anddownamongthegreenmeadowsthehaywasstacked. Therethestorkmincedaboutonhisredlegs,clackingawayinEgyptian, whichwasthelanguagehismotherhadtaughthim. Roundaboutthefieldandmeadowlandsrosevastforests,inwhichdeeplakeslayhidden. Yes,itwasindeedlovelyoutthereinthecountry. 

           Inthemidstofthesunshinetherestoodanoldmanorhousethathadadeepmoataroundit. Fromthewallsofthemanorrightdowntothewater’sedgegreatburdockleavesgrew,andthereweresomesotallthatlittlechildrencouldstanduprightbeneaththebiggestofthem. Inthiswildernessofleaves,whichwasasdenseastheforestsitself,aducksatonhernest,hatchingherducklings. Shewasbecomingsomewhatweary,becausesittingissuchadullbusinessandscarcelyanyonecametoseeher. Theotherduckswouldmuchratherswiminthemoatthanwaddleoutandsquatundertheburdockleaftogossipwithher. 

           Butatlasttheeggshellsbegantocrack,oneafteranother. "Peep,peep!"saidthelittlethings, astheycametolifeandpokedouttheirheads. 

           "Quack,quack!"saidtheduck, andquickasquickcanbetheyallwaddledouttohavealookatthegreenworldundertheleaves. Theirmotherletthemlookasmuchastheypleased,becausegreenisgoodfortheeyes. 

           "Howwidetheworldis,"saidalltheyoungducks,fortheycertainlyhadmuchmoreroomnowthantheyhadwhentheywereintheireggshells.