Дюймовочка

           Thepoorlittlethingwokeupearlynextmorning,andwhenshesawwhereshewasshebegantocrybitterly. Therewaswaterallaroundthebiggreenleafandtherewasnowayatallforhertoreachtheshore. Theoldtoadsatinthemud,decoratingaroomwithgreenrushesandyellowwaterlilies, tohaveitlookingitsbestforhernewdaughter-in-law. ThensheandheruglysonswamouttotheleafonwhichThumbelinawasstanding.Theycameforherprettylittlebed,whichtheywantedtocarrytothebridalchamberbeforetheytookherthere. 

           Theoldtoadcurtsieddeepinthewaterbeforeher,andsaid: 

           "Meetmyson.Heistobeyourhusband,andyouwillshareadelightfulhomeinthemud." 

           "Co-ax,co-ax,brek-ek-eke-kex,"wasallthathersoncouldsay. 

           Thentheytooktheprettylittlebedandswamawaywithit.Leftallaloneonthegreenleaf,Thumbelinasatdownandcried. Shedidnotwanttoliveintheslimytoad’shouse,andshedidn’twanttohavethetoad’shorriblesonforherhusband. Thelittlefisheswhoswaminthewaterbeneathherhadseenthetoadandheardwhatshehadsaid. Souppoppedtheirheadstohavealookatthelittlegirl. Nosoonerhadtheyseenherthantheyfeltverysorrythatanyonesoprettyshouldhavetogodowntolivewiththathideoustoad. No,thatshouldneverbe! Theygatheredaroundthegreenstemwhichheldtheleafwhereshewas,andgnaweditintwowiththeirteeth. Awaywenttheleafdownthestream,andawaywentThumbelina,farawaywherethetoadcouldnotcatchher.