Гадкий утёнок

           Thenitfrozesohardthattheducklinghadtopaddlecontinuouslytokeepthecracklingicefromclosinginuponhim.Atlast,tootiredtomove,hewasfrozenfastintheice. 

           Earlythatmorningafarmercameby,andwhenhesawhowthingswerehewentoutonthepond,brokeawaytheicewithhiswoodenshoe,andcarriedtheducklinghometohiswife. Theretheducklingrevived, butwhenthechildrenwishedtoplaywithhimhethoughttheymeanttohurthim. Terrified,heflutteredintothemilkpail,splashingthewholeroomwithmilk. Thewomanshriekedandthrewupherhandsasheflewintothebuttertub,andtheninandoutofthemealbarrel. Imaginewhathelookedlikenow! Thewomanscreamedandlashedoutathimwiththefiretongs.Thechildrentumbledovereachotherastheytriedtocatchhim,andtheylaughedandtheyshouted. Luckilythedoorwasopen, andtheducklingescapedthroughitintothebushes,wherehelaydown,inthenewlyfallensnow,asifinadaze. 

           Butitwouldbetoosadtotellofallthehardshipsandwretchednesshehadtoendureduringthiscruelwinter. Whenthewarmsunshoneoncemore,theducklingwasstillaliveamongthereedsofthemarsh. Thelarksbegantosingagain.Itwasbeautifulspringtime. 

           Then,quitesuddenly,heliftedhiswings.Theysweptthroughtheairmuchmorestronglythanbefore,andtheirpowerfulstrokescarriedhimfar. Beforehequiteknewwhatwashappening,hefoundhimselfinagreatgardenwhereappletreesbloomed.