The Ugly Duckling

It doesn't matter if you're born in a duck yard, so long as you are hatched from a swan's egg!

His own image; no longer a dark, gray bird, ugly and disagreeable to look at, but a graceful and beautiful swan. To be born in a duck's nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird, if it is hatched from a swan's egg.

He now felt glad at having suffered sorrow and trouble, because it enabled him to enjoy so much better all the pleasure and happiness around him;

I never dreamed of such happiness as this, while I was an ugly duckling.

It is only with the heart that one can see clearly, for the most essential things are invisible to the eye.

Autumn came, and the leaves in the forest turned to orange and gold. Then, as winter approached, the wind caught them as they fell

I think I will sit on it a little while longer," said the duck, "as I have sat so long already, a few days will be nothing." "Please yourself," said the old duck, and she went away.

And, above all, beware of the cat.

I will fly to those royal birds,

Oh," said the mother, "that is not a turkey. How well he uses his legs, and how upright he holds himself! He is my own child, and he is not so very ugly after all if you look at him properly. Quack, quack! Come with me now. I will take you into grand society, and introduce you to the farmyard, but you must keep close to me or you may be trodden upon. And, above all, beware of the cat." When they reached the farmyard,

cry so strange that it frightened him.

The Ugly Duckling The classic story by Hans Christian

Pop, pop," sounded in the air, and the two wild geese fell dead among the rushes, and the water was tinged with blood.

the heart that one can see clearly, for the most essential things are invisible

Early in the morning, a peasant, who was passing by, saw what had happened. He broke the ice in pieces with his wooden shoe, and carried the duckling home to his wife. The warmth revived the poor

push it myself." On the next day the weather was delightful, and the sun shone brightly on the green burdock

language, which he had learnt from his mother. The corn-fields and meadows were surrounded by large forests, in the midst

flew out and bit him in the neck. "Let him alone," said the mother, "he is not doing any harm." "Yes, but he

It is only with the heart that one can see clearly, for the most essential things are invisible to the eye." – ANTONIE DE SAINTE EXUPERY

he reached a poor little cottage that seemed ready to fall, and only remained standing because it could not decide on which side to fall first

It was a lovely summer weather in the country, and the golden corn, the green oats, and the haystacks piled up in the meadows looked beautiful. The stork walking about on his long red legs chattered in the Egyptian language, which he had learnt from his mother. The corn-fields and meadows were surrounded by large forests, in the midst of which were deep pools. It was, indeed, delightful to walk about in the country. In a sunny spot stood a pleasant old farm-house close by a deep river, and from the house down to the water side grew great burdock leaves, so high, that under the tallest of them a little child could stand upright. The spot was as wild as the centre of a thick wood. In