The Ugly Duckling
Once upon a time on a big farm, a Mother Duck sat on her nest. She had to keep her six eggs
warm until they hatched.
At last, the eggs began to crack. One by one, five yellow ducklings came out of the eggs. They
shook their wings and said, "Quack, quack." Then, they walked gracefully.
"Look at all of you!" said Mother Duck with joy. "You are all so cute!"
She counted one, two, three, four, five. "Oh, dear! I should have six
-ducklings!" Mother Duck was worried.
But one large egg was still in the nest. It was a little stubborn. So, Mother Duck sat on her nest
again and waited some more.
The next day, the big egg cracked open. A shy duckling came out. He was not yellow! He was gray
and bigger than others. But he was weak arid it walked with a funny wobble.
Each yellow duckling jumped into the river and swam behind Mother Duck. The Ugly Duckling
jumped in and started to paddle, too. "I can swim, Mother!" said the Ugly Duckling. He was
proud.
After swimming, the yellow ducklings started to play. They jumped and splashed in muddy
puddles. They shook their muddy wings and they laughed and laughed. The Ugly Duckling tried to
play with his brothers and sisters, too. "I can jump and shake my wings!" exclaimed the Ugly
Duckling. He was so happy. But, the yellow ducklings yelled,
"Go away!"
The Ugly Duckling walked with his head down. He was sad.
The Ugly Duckling went to his mum and said, "Mom, they don't want to play with me. Am I too
ugly?"
"You're different. You are not yellow but gray and brave." Mother Duck tried to calm him down.
But, he was not very pleased to hear it.
That night, the Ugly Duckling flew away. He landed on the other side of the river.
There he met two grown-up chickens.
can I please stay here?" asked the Ugly Duckling politely.
"why do we care?" said one of the chickens.
"Go away," exclaimed the other.
The Ugly Duckling walked with his head down in shame. He was sad.
The next morning, the Ugly Duckling flew away. He landed on a'farm.
Suddenly, a big hungry dog came. The dog chased the Ugly Duckling. "woof! Woofl" The Ugly
Duckling was scared.
The dog sniffed and sniffed at him, then turned away.
"I am too ugly even for the big hungry dog to want," said the Ugly Duckling. He felt heartbroken.
The Ugly Duckling was very tired.
But, he flew and flew till he found another farm. There he met a cow.
"Can I please stay here?" asked the Ugly Duckling nicely.
"Why do I care?" replied the rude cow. She then yelled, "Moo! Go away!"
Once again, the Ugly Duckling walked away with his head down. He felt heartbroken.
As time passed, the Ugly Duckling grew up.
He flew and flew till finally he found a clear pond. He saw some big white birds swimming in the
pond.
"Wow, they are very beautiful!" he thought, "but I'm too ugly to be their friend."
hills" greeted the Ugly Duckling. The beautiful white birds looked at him. It made the Ugly
Duckling feel nervous.
Suddenly, the biggest white bird exclaimed, "Hey, look, we have another swan here!"
"No.
No... I'm not. I'm an ugly duckling," said the Ugly Duckling. He shook his head.
The beautiful white swans smiled and said, "Look at yourself in the
water and tell us.
The Ugly Duckling saw a reflection in the water.
He was surprised.
"I am a swan just like you all!"
"See, we are being honest with you," said the other swans. They then became friends and lived
happily together.
