It was good outside the city!

It was summer. The rye was gilded, the oats were green, the hay was sourced into stacks; a long-legged stork walked across the green meadow and chatted in Egyptian, a language he had learned from his mother.

Behind the fields and meadows were large forests, and in the forests were deep lakes. Yes, it was good outside the city!

An old manor house lay in the sun, surrounded by deep ditches of water; burdock grew from the walls of the house to the water, and so big that little children could stand under the very large leaves full length. In the thicket of burdock it was deaf and wild, as in the thickest forest, and there was a duck sitting on eggs.

She had to bring out the ducklings, and she was pretty tired of it, because she had been sitting for a long time and rarely visited her - other ducks liked to swim in the ditches more than to sit in burdocks and quack with her. Finally eggshells crackled.

Pip! Pip! - squeaked inside. All the egg yolks came to life and stuck out their heads.

Crack! Crack! said the duck. The ducklings quickly scrambled out of their shells and began to look around under the green leaves of the burdock; mother did not bother them - green color good for the eyes.

Oh, how great the world is! - said the ducklings.

Still would! It was much more spacious here than in the shell.

Don't you think the whole world is here? - said the mother. - What is there! It stretches far, far, there, behind the garden, in the field, but I have never been there since I was born! .. Well, are you all here?

And she got up.

Oh no, not all. Largest egg intact! When will it end! I will soon lose my patience altogether.

And she sat down again.

Well how are you? asked the old duck who had come to visit her.

But I can't handle one egg, ”said the young duck. - Everything does not burst. But look at the little ones! Just lovely! All as one - to the father.

Show me an egg that won't burst, ”said the old duck. “This must be a turkey egg. In the same way, I was once led. Well, I had trouble with these turkeys, I tell you! I just couldn't lure them into the water. I quacked and pushed - they don't go, and that's all! Show me the egg. And there is! Turkey! Throw it and go teach the kids to swim!

I'll sit still! said the young duck. - I sat so much that you can sit still.

As you wish! - said the old duck and left.

Finally, a large egg burst.

Pip! Pip! - the chick squeaked and fell out of the egg. But how big and ugly he was!

The duck looked him over.

Terribly large! - she said. - And not at all like the rest! Isn't it a turkey, really? Well, yes, he will visit me in the water, and I will drive him by force!

The next day the weather was wonderful, the green burdock was bathed in the sun. The duck with all his family went to the ditch. Bulty! - and she found herself in the water.

Crack! Crack! - she called, and the ducklings, one after another, also thrashed into the water. At first, the water covered them with their heads, but they immediately surfaced and swam perfectly forward.

Their paws worked like that, and even the ugly gray duckling did not lag behind the others.

What kind of turkey is this? said the duck. - Look how gloriously he paddles with his paws! And how straight it is! No, he is mine, my dear ... But he is not at all bad, as you look at him well. Well, lively, lively behind me! Now I will introduce you to society, introduce you to the poultry yard. Just stay close to me so that someone does not step on you, but beware of the cats!

Soon we got to the poultry yard. Fathers! What a noise there was!

Two duck families fought over one eel head, and ended up with the cat's head.

You see how it happens in the world! - said the duck and licked its beak with its tongue - she herself was not averse to trying the eel head.

Well, well, move your paws! she said to the ducklings. - Quack and bow to that old duck! She is the most famous here. She is a Spanish breed and that is why she is so fat. See, she has a red patch on her leg. How beautiful! This is the highest distinction a duck can get. This means that they do not want to lose her - both people and animals recognize her by this patch. Well, live! Don't keep your paws inward! A well-bred duckling should turn its legs out, like a father and mother. Like this! Look! Now tilt your head and say, "Quack!"

And so they did. But the other ducks looked at them and said loudly:

Well, there’s a whole bunch of them! As if we were few? And one is so ugly! We will not tolerate him!

And immediately one duck flew up and pecked him on the back of the head.

Leave it! said the mother duck. - He didn’t do anything to you!

Okay, but it's so big and weird! - answered someone else's duck. - He needs to ask him well.

Nice kids you have! said the old duck with a red patch on its paw. - All glorious, that's just one ... This one failed! It would be nice to remake it!

This is not possible, your grace! - answered the mother duck. - He is not handsome, but he has a good heart. And he swims no worse, I dare even say - better than others. I think over time it will level out and become smaller. He lay in the egg for too long, which is why he did not quite succeed.

And she scratched the back of his head and stroked the feathers.

Besides, he is a drake, and a drake doesn't really need beauty. I think he will get stronger and make his way.

The rest of the ducklings are very, very cute! said the old duck. - Well, make yourself at home, and if you find an acne head, you can bring it to me.

So the ducklings made themselves at home. Only the poor duckling, who hatched later than everyone else and was so ugly, was pecked, pushed and teased by absolutely everyone - both ducks and chickens.

It hurts great! they said.

And the Indian rooster, who was born with spurs on his legs and therefore imagined himself to be an emperor, pouted and, like a ship in full sail, flew up to the duckling, looked at him and began to grump angrily; his scallop was so full of blood.

The poor duckling just didn't know what to do, where to go. And he had to be so ugly that the whole poultry yard laughs at him! ..

So the first day went by, and then it got worse. Everyone chased the poor duckling, even brothers and sisters angrily said to him:

If only the cat would drag you away, you obnoxious freak!

And the mother added:

Eyes would not be looking at you!

Ducks nibbled him, chickens pecked, and the girl who gave the birds food kicked him.

The duck could not stand it, ran across the yard - and over the hedge! Small birds fluttered frightened out of the bushes.

"It's because I'm so ugly!" - thought the duckling, closed his eyes and set off on.

He ran, ran until he found himself in the swamp where they lived wild ducks... Tired and sad, he lay here all night.

In the morning the wild ducks rose from their nests and saw a new comrade.

What kind of bird is this? they asked.

The duckling spun and bowed in all directions as best it could.

What a bogeyman you are! said the wild ducks. - However, we do not care, just do not think to intermarry with us.

Poor thing! Where could he think about it! If only they would let him sit in the reeds and drink marsh water.

He spent two days in the swamp. On the third day, two wild gander appeared. They only recently hatched from eggs and therefore took great importance.

Listen, buddy! they said. - You are such a freak that, really, we like you! Do you want to fly with us and be a free bird? There is another swamp nearby, and there live pretty wild geese young ladies. They know how to say: "Ha-ha-ha!" You are such a freak that, what good, you will have success with them.

Bang! Paph! - it sounded suddenly over the swamp, and both gander fell dead into the reeds; the water was stained with their blood.

Bang! Paph! - it sounded again, and from the reeds a whole flock of wild geese... Shooting began. The hunters surrounded the swamp on all sides; some even settled in the branches of trees hanging over the swamp.

Blue smoke enveloped the trees in clouds and spread over the water. Hunting dogs were running through the swamp - a splash! slap! The reeds and reeds swayed from side to side.

The poor duckling was neither alive nor dead from fear. He was about to hide his head under the wing, when suddenly a hunting dog with a protruding tongue and sparkling evil eyes appeared right in front of him.

She stuck her mouth to the duckling, bared her sharp teeth and - slap! Slap! - she ran on.

“I didn't,” thought the duckling and took a deep breath. - It is evident that I am so ugly that even a dog is disgusted to bite me!

And he hid in the reeds.

Above his head every now and then a shot whistled, shots rang out. The firing died down only towards evening, but the duckling was afraid to move for a long time.

Only after a few hours did he dare to get up, looked around and began to run further through the fields and meadows. The wind was so strong that the duckling could hardly move.

By nightfall, he ran to the poor hut. The hut was so dilapidated that it was ready to fall, but did not know which side it was, and that is why it held on.

The wind picked up the duckling - it had to rest against the ground with its tail. And the wind grew stronger.

Then the duckling noticed that the door of the hut had jumped off one hinge and was hanging so crooked that one could freely slip through the crack into the hut. And so he did.

An old woman lived in a hut with a cat and a chicken. She called the cat son; he knew how to arch his back, purr and even let off sparks if stroked against the grain.

The chicken had small, short legs, which is why it was nicknamed Short-legged; she laid eggs diligently, and the old woman loved her like a daughter.

In the morning someone else's duckling was noticed. The cat purred, the chicken cackled.

What is there? - Asked the old woman, looked around and noticed a duckling, but blindness took him for a fat duck, which strayed from the house.

That's a godsend! - said the old woman. “Now I’ll have duck eggs, unless it’s a drake.” Well, yes, we'll see, we'll try!

And the duckling was taken to the test. But three weeks passed, and still there were no eggs.

The real owner of the house was the cat, and the owner was the chicken, and both always said:

We and the whole world!

They considered themselves half of the whole world, and moreover, the better half.

True, the duckling believed that one could have a different opinion on this score. But the chicken did not tolerate this.

Can you lay eggs? she asked the duckling.

So keep your tongue on a leash!

And the cat asked:

Do you know how to arch your back, purr and let off sparks?

So do not poke your opinion when smart people speak!

And the duckling sat in the corner, ruffled.

Suddenly he remembered Fresh air and the sun, I really wanted to swim. He broke down and told the chicken about it.

What's wrong with you? she asked. - You sit back, here's a whim in your head and climbs! Lay eggs or purr, the nonsense will pass!

Ah, it’s so nice to swim! - said the duckling. - Such a pleasure to dive upside down into the very depths!

What a pleasure! - said the chicken. “You’re completely out of your mind! Ask the cat - he is smarter than everyone I know - if he likes to swim and dive. I'm not talking about myself! Finally, ask our old lady, there is no one in the world smarter than her! Do you think she wants to swim or dive?

You don’t understand me, ”said the duckling.

If we do not understand, then who will understand you! Do you want to be smarter than the cat and the mistress, not to mention me? Don't be silly, but be grateful for everything you've done for you! You were given shelter, you were warmed up, you ended up in a society where you can learn a thing or two. Notes empty head, and it's not worth talking to you. Trust me! I wish you well, that's why I scold you. This is how true friends are always recognized. Try to lay eggs or learn to purr and start sparks!

I think I'd better get out of here wherever my eyes would look, ”said the duckling.

Well, go yourself! - answered the chicken.

And the duck is gone. He swam and dived, but all the animals still despised him for his disgrace.

Autumn has come. The leaves on the trees turned yellow and brown; the wind picked them up and whirled them through the air. It got very cold.

Heavy clouds poured on the ground now hail, now snow, and a raven sat on the hedge and cawed from the cold at the top of its throat. Brr! You will freeze at the thought of such cold!

It was bad for the poor duckling. Once, in the evening, when the sun was still shining in the sky, a whole flock of beautiful big birds, the duckling has never seen such beautiful: all white as snow, with long, flexible necks.
They were swans.

With a strange cry, they flapped their magnificent large wings and flew from the cold meadows to the warm lands, across the blue sea. The swans rose high, high, and the poor duckling was seized by an incomprehensible anxiety.

He spun around in the water, stretched out his neck and screamed too, but so loudly and strangely that he was frightened himself. Ah, he could not take his eyes off these beautiful happy birds, and when they were completely out of sight, he dived to the very bottom, emerged and was as if not himself. The duckling did not know the name of these birds, where they fly, but he fell in love with them, as he had not loved anyone in the world until now.

He did not envy their beauty; it never occurred to him that he could be as beautiful as they were. He would be glad-radehonek, if at least the ducks did not push him away.
Poor ugly duckling!

Winter has come cold, very cold. The duckling had to swim without rest in order to prevent the water from freezing completely, but every night the hole in which he swam became smaller and smaller.

It was freezing so that even the ice crackled. The duckling worked tirelessly with his paws, but in the end he was completely exhausted, froze and froze all over.

Early in the morning a peasant passed by. He saw the duckling, broke the ice with his wooden shoes and took the half-dead bird home to his wife.

The duckling was warmed up.

But the children decided to play with him, and it seemed to him that they wanted to offend him. The duckling scurried with fear and landed right in the milk box with milk.

The milk splashed. The hostess screamed and waved her hands, while the duckling flew into a barrel of butter, and from there into a barrel of flour. Father, what did he look like!

The hostess screamed and chased after him with coal tongs, the children ran, knocking each other off their feet, laughing and screaming.
Fortunately, the door was open - the duckling jumped out, rushed into the bushes, right on the freshly fallen snow, and lay there for a long, long time, almost unconscious.

It would be too sad to describe all the troubles and misfortunes of the duckling during this harsh winter. When the sun again warmed the earth with its warm rays, he lay in the swamp, in the reeds.

The larks began to sing. Spring came! The duckling flapped its wings and flew. Now the wind hummed in his wings, and they were much stronger than before.

Before he had time to recover, he found himself in a large garden. The apple trees were in bloom; fragrant lilacs bent their long green branches over the winding canal.

Oh, how good it was, how it smelled of spring!

And suddenly three wonderful white swans swam out of the thicket of reeds. They floated so lightly and smoothly, as if they were gliding on water.

The duckling recognized the beautiful birds, and he was seized by some incomprehensible sadness.

I'll fly to them, to these stately birds. They will probably peck me to death for the fact that I, so ugly, dared to approach them. But let it be! It is better to die from their blows than to endure the pinches of ducks and chickens, the kicks of the hen-woman, and endure the cold and hunger in winter!

And he sank into the water and swam towards the beautiful swans, who, seeing him, also swam to him.

Kill me! - said the poor thing and lowered his head, expecting death, but what did he see in the water, as clear as a mirror? Your own reflection.

But he was no longer an ugly dark gray duckling, but a swan. It doesn't matter if you are born in a duck's nest, if you hatch from a swan egg!

Now he was glad that he had endured so much grief and misfortune - he could better appreciate his happiness and the splendor that surrounded him.

And big swans swam around and stroked him with their beaks.

Small children ran into the garden. They began tossing bread crumbs and grains to the swans, and the youngest shouted:

A new one has arrived!

And everyone else picked up:

New, new!

The children clapped their hands and danced with joy, and then they ran after their father and mother and again began to throw crumbs of bread and cake into the water. Everyone said:

The new swan is the best! He is so handsome and young!

And the old swans bowed their heads before him.

And he was completely embarrassed and hid his head under the wing, not knowing why.

He was very happy, but he was not at all proud - a good heart knows no pride; he remembered the time when everyone laughed at him and chased him. And now everyone says that he is the most beautiful among the beautiful birds.

The lilacs bowed their fragrant branches into the water, the sun shone so warmly, so brightly ...

And now his wings rustled, his slender neck straightened, and a triumphant cry escaped from his chest:

No, I never dreamed of such happiness when I was still an ugly duckling!

Story

It was good outside the city! It was summer, the rye had already turned yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been swept into haystacks; a long-legged stork walked across the green meadow and chatted in Egyptian - he had learned this language from his mother. Behind the fields and meadows were large forests with deep lakes in the thicket. Yes, it was good outside the city! An old manor house lay in the sun, surrounded by deep ditches of water; burdock grew from the building down to the water, and so big that little children could stand under the largest of its leaves at full height. In the thicket of the burdock it was as deaf and wild as in a dense forest, and it was there that a duck was sitting on the eggs. She had been sitting for a long time, and she was rather tired of this seat - she was rarely visited: other ducks liked to swim along the grooves more than to sit in a burdock and quack with her. Finally the eggshells crackled.

- Pi! Pi! - I heard from them, egg yolks came to life and raised their noses from the shells.

- Alive! Alive! - quacked the duck, and the ducklings hurried up, somehow scrambled out and began to look around, looking at the green leaves of burdock; their mother did not interfere with them - green light is good for the eyes.

- How great the world is! - said the ducklings.

Still would! They now had much more room than when they lay in their eggs.

- Do you think the whole world is here? - said the mother. - No! He walks far, far, there, behind the garden, in the priest's field, but I have never been there since I was born! .. Well, that's it, are you here? - And she got up. - Oh, no, not all! Largest egg intact! How soon will this end! Really, I'm already tired of it.

And she sat down again.

- Well how are you? - An old duck dropped in to her.

- Yes, here's one more egg! Said the young duck. - I sit, I sit, but everything is no use! But look at the others! Just lovely! Terribly like their father! And he, worthless, and did not visit me even once!

- Wait, I'll take a look at the egg! Said the old duck. - Maybe it's a turkey egg! I was tricked too once! Well, I toiled as I brought out the turkey poults! They are passionate as they are afraid of water; I already quacked, and called, and pushed them into the water - they don't go, and that's the end! Let me see the egg! Well, it is! Turkey! Throw him and go, teach others to swim!

- I'll sit still! Said the young duck. - Sat so much that you can sit and a little more.

- As you wish! - said the old duck and left. Finally, the shell of the largest egg cracked.

- Pi! Pi! - and from there a huge ugly chick fell out. The duck looked him over.

- Terribly large! - she said. - And not at all like the others! Is it a turkey? Well, yes, he will visit me in the water, if only I had to push him there by force!

The next day the weather was wonderful, the green burdock was all drenched in the sun. The duck with all his family went to the ditch. Bulty! - and the duck found itself in the water.

- Follow me! Alive! - she called the ducklings, and they, one after the other, also flopped into the water.

At first, the water covered them with their heads, but then they emerged and swam so that they liked it. Their paws worked like that; the ugly gray duckling kept up with the others.

- What kind of turkey is this? Said the duck. - Look how gloriously he paddles with his paws, how straight he keeps! No, this is my own son! Yes, he is not at all bad, as you look at him well! Well, lively, lively, follow me! I will now introduce you to society: we will go to the poultry yard. But stay close to me so that someone does not step on you, but beware of the cats!

Soon we got to the poultry yard. Fathers! What noise and din was there! Two families fought over one blackhead, and the cat eventually got it.

- This is how things are going in this world! - said the duck and licked its beak with its tongue: she also wanted to taste the eel head. - Well, well, move your paws! She said to the ducklings. - Quack and bow to that old duck! She is the most famous here! She is a Spanish breed and that is why she is so fat. See the red patch on her leg? How beautiful! This is a sign of the highest distinction that a duck can only be awarded. People make it clear by this that they do not want to lose her; both people and animals recognize her by this patch. Well, live! Don't keep your paws together! A well-bred duckling should keep his legs apart and turn them out, like a father with a mother! Like this! Bow down now and quack!

They did so, but the other ducks looked at them and spoke loudly:

- Well, here's a whole bunch! As if we were few! And one is so ugly! We will not tolerate him!

And immediately one duck jumped up and pecked him on the neck.

- Leave him! Said the mother duck. - He didn’t do anything to you!

“We’ll say, but he’s so big and strange! - answered the bully. - He should be asked good!

- Nice kids you have! Said the old duck with a red patch on its leg. - Everyone is very nice, except for one ... This one failed! It would be nice to remake it!

“It’s impossible, your grace! - answered the mother duck. - He is not handsome, but he has a good heart, and he swims no worse, I dare say, better than others. I think that he will grow, prettier or become smaller over time. He lay in the egg, which is why he did not quite succeed. - And she ran her nose over the feathers of a large duckling. “Besides, he’s a drake, and he doesn’t need beauty so much. I think he will mature and make his way!

- The rest of the ducklings are very, very cute! Said the old duck. - Well, make yourself at home, and if you find an acne head, you can bring it to me.

So they began to behave like at home. Only the poor duckling, who hatched later than everyone else and was so ugly, pecked, pushed and showered with ridicule absolutely everything - both ducks and chickens.

- He's too big! - everyone said, and the turkey, who was born with spurs on his legs and therefore imagined himself an emperor, pouted and, like a ship in full sail, flew up to the duckling, looked at him and began to grump angrily; his scallop was so full of blood. The poor duckling just didn't know what to do, how to be. And he had to be born with such an ugly laughing stock for the whole poultry yard!

So the first day passed, then it got worse. Everyone chased the poor thing, even his brothers and sisters angrily said to him: "If only the cat took you away, you obnoxious freak!" - and the mother added: "My eyes would not see you!" Ducks pecked at him, chickens nibbled, and the girl who gave the birds food kicked him.

The duck could not stand it, ran across the yard and - through the hedge! Small birds fluttered frightened out of the bushes.

"They were scared of me - so ugly I am!" - thought the duckling and set off with closed eyes on, until he found himself in a swamp where wild ducks lived. Tired and sad, he sat there all night.

In the morning, the ducks flew out of their nests and saw a new comrade.

- Who are you? - they asked, and the duckling spun, bowing in all directions as best he could.

- You are beautiful! Said the wild ducks. - But we do not care about this, just do not try to intermarry with us!

Poor thing! Where could he even think about it! If only they would let him sit here in the reeds and drink marsh water.

He spent two days in the swamp, on the third two wild gander appeared. They recently hatched from eggs and therefore performed with great force.

- Listen, buddy! They said. - You are such a freak that, really, we like you! Do you want to roam with us and be a free bird? Not far from here, in another swamp, there are lovely wild goose young ladies. They know how to say "rap, rap!" You are such a freak that - what good - you will have great success with them!

“Bang! bang! " - was heard suddenly over the swamp, and both gander fell into the reeds dead: the water was stained with blood. “Bang! bang! " - was heard again, and from the reeds a whole flock of wild geese rose. Shooting began. The hunters surrounded the swamp on all sides; some of them sat in the branches of the trees overhanging the swamp. Blue smoke enveloped the trees in clouds and spread over the water. Hunting dogs spanked across the swamp; the reeds swayed from side to side. The poor duckling was neither alive nor dead from fear and only wanted to hide his head under his wing, as if to look - in front of him was a hunting dog with his tongue out and sparkling evil eyes. She brought her mouth close to the duckling, bared her sharp teeth, and - slap, slap - ran on.

- Thank God! - the duck took a breath. - Thank God! I'm so ugly that even a dog doesn't want to bite me!

And he hid in the reeds; pellets flew over his head every now and then, and shots rang out.

The firing died down only towards evening, but the duckling was afraid to move for a long time. Several more hours passed before he dared to get up, look around and start running further through the fields and meadows. The wind was so strong that the duckling could hardly move.

By nightfall, he ran to the poor hut. The hut was already so dilapidated that it was ready to fall, but did not know which side it was, and that is why it was holding on. The wind picked up the duckling - it had to rest against the ground with its tail!

The wind, however, grew stronger; what was the duckling to do? Fortunately, he noticed that the hut door had jumped off one hinge and was hanging quite crookedly: one could freely slip through this gap into the hut. And so he did.

An old woman lived in a hut with a cat and a chicken. She called the cat son; he knew how to arch his back, purr and even emit sparks if he was stroked against the grain. The chicken had small, short legs, and they called it Short-legged; she laid eggs diligently, and the old woman loved her like a daughter.

In the morning, the newcomer was noticed: the cat began to purr, and the chicken began to cackle.

- What is there? - asked the old woman, looked around and noticed a duckling, but because of her blindness she took him for a fat duck that had strayed away from the house.

- That's a find! - said the old woman. “Now I’ll have duck eggs, unless it’s a drake.” Well, we'll see, we'll try it!

And the duckling was accepted for testing, but three weeks passed, and still there were no eggs. The cat was the master of the house, and the chicken was the mistress, and both always said: "We are the light!" They considered themselves half of the whole world, moreover, the better half of it. It seemed to the duckling that one could have a different opinion on this matter. The chicken, however, did not tolerate this.

- Can you lay eggs? She asked the duckling.

- So keep your tongue on a leash!

And the cat asked:

- Do you know how to arch your back, purr and give off sparks?

- So do not poke your opinion when smart people speak!

And the duckling was sitting in the corner, ruffled. Suddenly he remembered the fresh air and the sun, and he terribly wanted to swim. He broke down and told the chicken about it.

- What's wrong with you?! She asked. - You sit back, here's a whim in your head and climbs! Lay eggs or purr - the nonsense will pass!

“Ah, it’s so nice to swim on the water! - said the duckling. - And what a pleasure it is to dive deep into the depths with your head!

- Good delight! - said the chicken. - You are completely crazy! Ask the cat - he is smarter than everyone I know - whether he likes to swim or dive! I'm not talking about myself! Finally, ask our old lady: there is no one smarter than her in the world! Do you think she wants to swim or dive headlong?

- You do not understand me! - said the duckling.

- If we do not understand, then who will understand you! Well, you want to be smarter than the cat and the lady, not to mention me? Don't be silly, but rather thank the Creator for everything that they have done for you! You have been sheltered, you have been warmed, you are surrounded by such a society in which you can learn something, but you are an empty head, and there is no need to talk to you! Trust me! I wish you well, that's why I scold you: for this, true friends are always recognized! Try to lay eggs or learn to purr and let sparks!

- I think I'd better get out of here wherever my eyes would look! - said the duckling.

- And with God! - answered the chicken.

And the duckling left, swam and dived headlong, but all the animals still despised him for his disgrace.

Autumn has come; the leaves on the trees turned yellow and brown; the wind picked them up and whirled them through the air; above, in the sky, it became so cold that heavy clouds were sown with hail and snow, and a raven was sitting on the hedge and croaking from the cold at the top of its throat. Brr! You will freeze at the thought of such cold! It was bad for the poor duckling.

Once in the evening, when the sun was still so gloriously shining in the sky, a whole flock of wonderful large birds rose from behind the bushes; The duckling had never seen such handsome men: they were all white as snow, with long, flexible necks! They were swans. They let out a strange cry, flapped their magnificent large wings and flew from the cold meadows to the warm lands, across the blue sea. They climbed high, high, and the poor duckling was seized by some strange excitement. He spun in the water like a top, stretched out his neck and also let out such a loud and strange cry that he was frightened himself. Wonderful birds did not go out of his head, and when they finally disappeared from sight, he dived to the very bottom, emerged again and was as if beside himself. The duckling did not know the name of these birds, where they flew, but he fell in love with them, as he had not loved anyone until now. He did not envy their beauty: it never entered his head to wish to be like them; he would also be glad that at least the ducks did not push him away from themselves. Poor ugly duckling!

And the winter was cold, very cold. The duckling had to swim in the water without rest in order to prevent it from freezing completely, but every night the ice-free space became smaller and smaller. It was freezing so that the ice crust cracked. The duckling tirelessly worked with its paws, but in the end it became exhausted, stopped and froze all over.

Early in the morning a peasant passed by, saw a frozen duckling, broke the ice with his wooden shoe and brought the bird home to his wife. The duckling was warmed up.

But then the children decided to play with him, and he imagined that they wanted to offend him, and jumped out of fear straight into the milk-box with milk - the milk spilled all over. The woman screamed and threw up her hands; The duckling meanwhile flew into a barrel of butter, and from there into a barrel of flour. Father, what did he look like! The woman screamed and chased him with coal tongs, the children ran, knocking each other off their feet, laughing and screaming. It was good that the door was open: the duckling ran out, rushed into the bushes right on the freshly fallen snow and lay there for a long, long time, almost unconscious.

It would be too sad to describe all the misadventures of the duckling during the harsh winter. When the sun again warmed the earth with its warm rays, he lay in the swamp, in the reeds. The larks began to sing, spring came red.

The duckling flapped its wings and flew; now his wings were rustling and much stronger than before. Before he had time to recover, he found himself in a large garden. The apple trees were all in bloom, the fragrant lilacs bending their long green branches over the winding canal.

Oh, how good it was, how it smelled of spring! Suddenly, three wonderful white swans swam out of the thicket of reeds. They floated so lightly and smoothly, as if they were gliding on water. The duckling found out beautiful birds and a strange sadness seized him.

“I'll fly to these royal birds; They will probably kill me for my insolence, for the fact that I, so ugly, dared to approach them, but let it be! It is better to be killed by them than to endure the pinches of ducks and chickens, the shocks of the hen-woman and endure the cold and hunger in winter! "

And he flew into the water and swam towards the handsome swans, who, seeing him, also rushed towards him.

- Kill me! - Said the poor thing and bowed his head, expecting death, but what did he see in the water as clear as a mirror? His own reflection, but he was no longer an ugly dark gray bird, but a swan!

It doesn't matter to be born in a duck nest, if you hatch from a swan egg!

Now he was glad that he had endured so much grief and misery: he could now better appreciate his happiness and all the splendor that surrounded him. Large swans swam around him and caressed him, stroking the feathers with their beaks.

Small children ran into the garden; they began tossing bread crumbs and grains to the swans, and the smallest of them shouted:

- New, new!

And everyone else picked up:

- Yes, new, new! - clapped their hands and danced with joy; then they ran after father and mother, and again threw crumbs of bread and cake into the water.

Everyone said that the new one was the most beautiful. So young, adorable!

And the old swans bowed their heads before him.

And he was completely embarrassed and hid his head under the wing, not knowing why. He was too happy, but he was not at all proud: a kind heart knows no pride, remembering the time when everyone despised and persecuted him. And now everyone says that he is the most beautiful among the beautiful birds! The lilacs bowed their fragrant branches into the water; the sun was shining so gloriously ... And then his wings rustled, his slender neck straightened, and a triumphant cry escaped from his chest:

- No, I never dreamed of such happiness when I was still an ugly duckling!

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Download and print coloring pages from the fairy tale The Ugly Duckling

Coloring Pages ugly duck created based on the fairy tale by G.H. Andersen. Choose the coloring pages you like Ugly duckling and then download or print them in A4 format for free.

In the barnyard, in a duck family, an unusual chick hatched from an egg. He was not handsome, not ugly and was very different from the rest of the chicks. The duck's mother loved him very much and was worried that the baby did not at all look like brothers and sisters. The whole poultry yard mocked him. The duckling believed that he was ugly and fled to the lake where the white swans lived. The lone chick admired the flock, but did not dare to approach them. Time passed, and the duckling itself turned into a beautiful snow-white swan. The tale ended remarkably: all the enemies began to admire his beauty and the young swan found a real family.

In order to get acquainted with the little hero, you need to download or print the ugly duckling coloring pages for free. Especially for children, black and white illustrations will show the most important points stories. The pictures show different times years, so it will be interesting for the guys to choose colors that match the season.