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over the smooth water。 The duckling remembered the lovely birds； and
felt more strangely unhappy than ever。
〃I will fly to those royal birds；〃 he exclaimed； 〃and they will
kill me； because I am so ugly； and dare to approach them； but it
does not matter： better be killed by them than pecked by the ducks；
beaten by the hens； pushed about by the maiden who feeds the
poultry； or starved with hunger in the winter。〃
Then he flew to the water； and swam towards the beautiful swans。
The moment they espied the stranger； they rushed to meet him with
outstretched wings。
〃Kill me；〃 said the poor bird； and he bent his head down to the
surface of the water； and awaited death。
But what did he see in the clear stream below？ His own image； no
longer a dark； gray bird； ugly and disagreeable to look at； but a
graceful and beautiful swan。 To be born in a duck's nest； in a
farmyard； is of no consequence to a bird； if it is hatched from a
swan's egg。 He now felt glad at having suffered sorrow and trouble；
because it enabled him to enjoy so much better all the pleasure and
happiness around him； for the great swans swam round the new…comer；
and stroked his neck with their beaks； as a welcome。
Into the garden presently came some little children； and threw
bread and cake into the water。
〃See；〃 cried the youngest； 〃there is a new one；〃 and the rest were
delighted； and ran to their father and mother； dancing and clapping
their hands； and shouting joyously； 〃There is another swan come； a new
one has arrived。〃
Then they threw more bread and cake into the water； and said； 〃The
new one is the most beautiful of all； he is so young and pretty。〃
And the old swans bowed their heads before him。
Then he felt quite ashamed； and hid his head under his wing； for
he did not know what to do； he was so happy； and yet not at all proud。
He had been persecuted and despised for his ugliness； and now he heard
them say he was the most beautiful of all the birds。 Even the
elder…tree bent down its bows into the water before him； and the sun
shone warm and bright。 Then he rustled his feathers； curved his
slender neck； and cried joyfully； from the depths of his heart； 〃I
never dreamed of such happiness as this； while I was an ugly
duckling。〃
THE END
。