Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141938547
Publisher: Penguin Group UK
Published: 2009-12-10T16:00:00+00:00

the mother duck came out with all her young ones and went down to the moat. Splash! In she went. ‘Quack, quack!’ she called, and one after another the ducklings plopped in. The water went over their heads, but they rose up again in a moment, and were soon swimming busily. Their feet moved of their own accord, and there they all were, out in the water – even the ugly grey one was swimming with them.

‘No, that’s no turkey,’ the mother said. ‘Look how well he uses his legs, and how straight he holds himself. He’s my own child, no doubt about it. Really, he is quite handsome if you look at him properly. Quack, quack! Come along with me, children; I’ll take you into the world and introduce you to the other farm birds; but mind you stay close to me, so that no one treads on you. And keep a careful look out for the cat.’

So they went into the poultry-yard. There was a horrible noise and commotion there, for two families were squabbling over the head of an eel – and then the cat got it after all.

‘That’s the way of the world,’ said the mother duck. Her own beak watered a little, for she too would have liked the eel’s head. ‘Now, then, use your legs; hurry along and make a bow to the old duck over there! She is our most distinguished resident; her ancestors came from Spain, and, as you see, she has a piece of red cloth tied round her leg. That is something very special; it means that no one will get rid of her, and both man and beast must treat her with respect. Come along! Don’t turn your toes in! A well-bred duckling walks with feet well apart, like father and mother. Now then! Make a bow and say “Quack!” ’

The little birds did as they were told; but the other ducks in the yard looked at them and said quite loudly: ‘Now we shall have to put up with all that mob, as if there weren’t enough of us already. And – my goodness! What an odd-looking duckling that one is! We certainly don’t want him!’ And a duck flew at the grey one and pecked him in the neck.

‘Leave him alone,’ said the mother. ‘He’s not doing anyone any harm.’

‘Yes, but he’s too big, and peculiar-looking,’ said the duck who had pecked at him. ‘He has to be put in his place.’

‘There’s a fine family,’ said the old duck with a piece of red cloth round her leg. ‘All the children are pretty – except that one; he won’t do at all. I do wish that the mother could make him all over again.’

‘That can’t be done, Your Grace,’ said the mother duck. ‘To be sure, he isn’t handsome, but he has a nice disposition, and he swims quite as prettily as any of the others. I venture to say, he may even grow to be better-looking, and perhaps, in time, a bit smaller.

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