Knjigice
Fairy tale · Classic fairy tales
The Ugly Duckling
The story of a duckling who became a swan
Also in: Grdi raček (Slovenian) · Škaredé káčatko (Slovak)
By the pond, among the reeds, Mama Duck was hatching her eggs. Crack — crack, crack, crack! — and little yellow ducklings peeked out. Only the biggest egg still lay quietly in the nest.
1
At last the big egg cracked too. Out tumbled a duckling — bigger than all the rest, grey and clumsy. "What a strange duckling," whispered the ducks. But Mama looked at him with love: "He is mine."
2
In the farmyard, everyone laughed at him. "He's too big! Too grey! An ugly duckling!" quacked the ducks and clucked the hens. The duckling hung his head. He didn't belong anywhere.
3
One morning, the duckling left. He wandered alone past marshes and meadows. He met wild ducks who were friendly — but they were different from him, and they flew on. The duckling stayed behind, alone.
4
Autumn came. One evening, a flock of great white birds with long necks flew high above him. They were so beautiful that the duckling's heart ached. "Who are you?" he called. But the birds were already far away.
5
Cold winter came. The duckling found shelter deep in the thick reeds. He curled up into a little ball, watched the snowflakes and waited. "One day it will be warm again," he whispered to himself.
6
And so it was: the snow melted, the willows turned green and the pond began to ripple again. Spring! The duckling spread his wings — and felt that over the winter they had grown big and strong.
7
In the middle of the pond swam swans. The duckling quietly swam toward them and bowed his head. "I know I'm ugly," he said. But then he saw his reflection in the water.
8
Looking back at him from the water was a magnificent white swan. It was — himself! Over the winter he had grown into a swan. The swans gathered around and greeted him gently with their long necks: "Welcome, brother."
9
Children came running to the bank. "Look, a new swan!" they cried. "The young one is the most beautiful of all!" The swan bowed his neck, and his heart felt warmer than ever before.
10
And so the ugly duckling became the most beautiful swan on the pond. He never forgot what it was like to be alone — so he was kind to everyone. Each of us blooms in our own time. You only have to wait for spring.
11The End
