Гидке каченя

           "Doyouthinkthisisthewholeworld?"theirmotherasked. "Whyitextendsonandon,clearacrosstotheothersideofthegardenandrightonintotheparson’sfield,thoughthatisfurtherthanIhaveeverbeen. Idohopeyouareallhatched,"shesaidasshegotup. "No,notquiteall.Thebiggesteggstilllieshere. Howmuchlongeristhisgoingtotake?Iamreallyrathertiredofitall,"shesaid, butshesettledbackonhernest. 

           "Well,howgoesit?" askedanoldduckwhocametopayheracall. 

           "Ittakesalongtimewiththatoneegg,"saidtheduckonthenest. "Itwon’tcrack,butlookattheothers. TheyarethecutestlittleducklingsI’veeverseen.Theylookexactlyliketheirfather,thewretch! Hehasn’tcometoseemeatall." 

           "Let’shavealookattheeggthatwon’tcrack,"theoldducksaid."It’saturkeyegg,andyoucantakemywordforit. Iwasfooledlikethatoncemyself. WhattroubleandcareIhadwiththoseturkeychildren, forImayaswelltellyou,theyareafraidofthewater.simplycouldnotgetthemintoit.Iquackedandsnappedatthem,butitwasn’tabitofuse.Letmeseetheegg. Certainly,it’saturkeyegg. Letitlie,andgoteachyourotherchildrentoswim." 

           "Oh,I’llsitalittlelonger.I’vebeenatitsolongalreadythatImayaswellsitherehalfthesummer." 

           "Suityourself,"saidtheoldduck,andawayshewaddled. 

           Atlastthebigeggdidcrack. "Peep,"saidtheyoungone,andouthetumbled,buthewassobigandugly. 

           Theducktookalookathim.