Дюймовочка

           AstheystaredatThumbelina,theladyMay-bugsthrewuptheirfeelersandsaid: 

           "Why,shehasonlytwolegs-whatamiserablesight!" 

           "Sheispinchedinatthewaist-howshameful!Shelookslikeahumanbeing-howuglysheis!"saidallofthefemaleMay-bugs. 

           YetThumbelinawasasprettyasever.EventheMay-bugwhohadflownawaywithherknewthat,butaseverylastoneofthemkeptcallingherugly, heatlengthcametoagreewiththemandwouldhavenothingtodowithher-shecouldgowherevershechose. Theyflewdownoutofthetreewithherandleftheronadaisy, whereshesatandcriedbecauseshewassouglythattheMay-bugswouldn’thaveanythingtodowithher. 

           Nevertheless,shewastheloveliestlittlegirlyoucanimagine,andasfrailandfineasthepetalofarose. 

           Allsummerlong,poorThumbelinalivedallaloneinthewoods. Shewoveherselfahammockofgrass,andhungitunderabigburdockleaftokeepofftherain. Shetookhoneyfromtheflowersforfood,anddrankthedewwhichshefoundontheleaveseverymorning. Inthiswaythesummerandfallwentby. Thencamethewinter,thelong,coldwinter. Allthebirdswhohadsungsosweetlyforherflewaway.Thetreesandtheflowerswithered. Thebigburdockleafunderwhichshehadlivedshriveledupuntilnothingwasleftofitbutadry,yellowstalk. Shewasterriblycold,forherclotheshadwornthreadbareandsheherselfwassoslenderandfrail. PoorThumbelina,shewouldfreezetodeath!