Гидке каченя
Thehenhadshortlittlelegs,soshewascalled"ChickeyShortleg." Shelaidgoodeggs,andtheoldwomanlovedherasifshehadbeenherownchild.
Inthemorningtheywerequicktonoticethestrangeduckling.Thecatbegantopurr,andthehenbegantocluck.
"Whatonearth!"Theoldwomanlookedaround,butshewasshort-sighted,andshemistooktheducklingforafatduckthathadlostitsway. "Thatwasagoodcatch,"shesaid. "NowIshallhaveduckeggs-unlessit’sadrake.Wemusttryitout." Sotheducklingwastriedoutforthreeweeks,butnotoneeggdidhelay.
Inthishousethecatwasmasterandthehenwasmistress. Theyalwayssaid,"Weandtheworld," fortheythoughtthemselveshalfoftheworld,andmuchthebetterhalfatthat. Theducklingthoughtthattheremightbemorethanonewayofthinking,butthehenwouldnothearofit.
"Canyoulayeggs?"sheasked
"No."
"Thenbesogoodastoholdyourtongue."
Thecatasked, "Canyouarchyourback,purr,ormakesparks?"
"No."
"Thenkeepyouropiniontoyourselfwhensensiblepeoplearetalking."
Theducklingsatinacorner,feelingmostdespondent.Thenherememberedthefreshairandthesunlight. Suchadesiretogoswimmingonthewaterpossessedhimthathecouldnothelptellingthehenaboutit.
"Whatonearthhascomeoveryou?"thehencried. "Youhaven’tathingtodo,andthat’swhyyougetsuchsillynotions. Layusanegg,orlearntopurr,andyou’llgetoverit."
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