The Ugly Duckling

The Ugly Duckling

by Hans Christian Andersen

Close by the old farm stood a deep pond, surrounded by

large leaves. A mother duck was sitting on her nest, waiting

patiently for her eggs to hatch.

At last, one little shell cracked, and out came a tiny duckling.

“Peep! Peep!” cried the little ones, as they came out.

“Are they all out?” said the mother duck, looking at her eggs.

“No, there is still one very large egg left,” she said. “I shall sit

a little longer.”

Soon the big egg cracked open, and out came a very large,

grey duckling.

“How big he is!” said the mother duck. “He does not look like

the others, but he swims beautifully.”