pinion. Ask our mistress, the old
woman; there is no one in the world more clever than she is. Do you
think she would relish swimming and letting the water close over her
head?"

"I see you don't understand me," said the duckling.

"We don't understand you? Who can understand you, I wonder? Do you
consider yourself more clever than the cat or the old woman?--I will say
nothing of myself. Don't imagine such nonsense, child, and thank your
good fortune that you have been so well received here. Are you not in a
warm room and in society from which you may learn something? But you are
a chatterer, and your company is not very agreeable. Believe me, I speak
only for your good. I may tell you unpleasant truths, but that is a
proof of my friendship. I advise you, therefore, to lay eggs and learn
to purr as quickly as possible."

"I believe I must go out into the world again," said the duckling.

"Yes, do," said the hen. So the duckling left the cottage and soon found
water on which it could swim and dive, but he was avoided by all other
animals because of his ugly appearance.

Autumn came, and the leaves in the forest turned to orange and gold;
then, as winter approached, the wind caught them as they fell and
whirled them into the cold air. The clouds, heavy with hail and
snowflakes, hung low in the sky, and the raven stood among the reeds,
crying, "Croak, croak." It made one shiver with cold to look at him. All
this was very sad for the poor little duckling.

One evening, just as the sun was setting amid radiant clouds, there came
a large flock of beautiful birds out of the bushes. The duckling had
never seen any like them before. They were swans; and they curved their
graceful necks, while their soft plumage shone with dazzling whiteness.
They uttered a singular cry as they spread their glorious wings and flew
away from those cold regions to warmer countries across the sea. They
mounted higher and higher in the air, and the ugly little duckling had a
strange sensation as he watched them. He whirled himself in the water
like a wheel, stretched out his neck towards them, and uttered a cry so
strange that it frightened even himself. Could he ever forget those
beautiful, happy birds! And when at last they were out of his sight, he
dived under the water and rose again almost beside himself with
excitement. He knew not the names of these birds nor where they had
flown, but he felt towards them as he had never felt towards any