g any thing of the
matter--from the very well where Truth lies hidden.

We should like to quote at once, before proceeding further, one of
Andersen's tales for children. We _will_ venture upon an extract. It
will at all events be new to our readers, and will be more likely to
interest them in the history of its author than any quotation we could
make from his more ambitious works. Besides, the story we select will
somewhat foreshadow the real history which follows.

A highly respectable matronly duck introduces into the poultry-yard a
brood which she has just hatched. She has had a deal of trouble with one
egg, much larger than the rest, and which after all produced a very
"ugly duck," who gives the name, and is the hero of the story.

"'So, we are to have this tribe, too!' said the other ducks, 'as if
there were not enough of us already! And only look how ugly one is!
we won't suffer that one here.' And immediately a duck flew at it,
and bit it in the neck.

"'Let it alone,' said the mother; 'it does no one any harm.'

"'Yes, but it is so large and strange looking, and therefore it
must be teased.'

"'These are fine children that the mother has!' said an old duck,
who belonged to the noblesse, and wore a red rag round its leg.
'All handsome, except one; it has not turned out well. I wish she
could change it.'

"'That can't be done, your grace,' said the mother; 'besides, if it
is not exactly pretty, it is a sweet child, and swims as well as
the others, even a little better. I think in growing it will
improve. It was long in the egg, and that's the reason it is a
little awkward.'

"'The others are nice little things,' said the old duck: 'now make
yourself quite at home here.'

"And so they did. But the poor young duck that had come last out of
the shell, and looked so ugly, was bitten, and pecked, and teased
by ducks and fowls. 'It's so large!' said they all; and the
turkey-cock, that had spurs on when he came into the world, and
therefore fancied himself an emperor, strutted about like a ship
under full sail, went straight up to it, gobbled, and got quite
red. The poor little duck hardly knew where to go, or where to
stand, it was so sorrowful because it was so ugly, and the ridicule
of the whole poultry-yard.

"Thus passed the first day, and afterwards it grew worse an