Part 2

THÉ UGLÝ DUCKLING

IT wáś^woś bèàûtíful in thé còuntrý. It wáś^woś summertîmè. Thé wheat wáś^woś yellôw, thé oats werè green, thé hay wáś^woś stackèd up in thé green meàdôwś, and thé stork pàŕâdėd ábout on hiś long red legś, tålking in Ėĝẏpţìán, which lañgυáĝè hê had lèàŕnt fróm hiś mőther.

Thé fìêldś and meàdôwś werè skirtėd bŷ thick wōōdś, and a deep lâkè lay in thé midst of^uv thé wōōdś. Yes; it wáś^woś indeed bèàûtíful in thé còuntrý! Thé sunshînè fell wårmlý on an ôld manŝìòn, súrroundėd bŷ deep cánalś, and fróm thé wållś down tó^tö thé wåter's edĝè theŕè grew larĝè burdock leavèś, sô high that childrén cōūld stand upright ámőng them without bêing seen.

This plâçè wáś^woś aś wîld aś thé thickėst part of^uv thé wōōd, and on that áccount a Duck had chôśén tó^tö mâkè her nest theŕè. Shê wáś^woś sitting on her eggś; but thé pleàŝurè shê had felt at first wáś^woś now ålmôst gonè, bėcauśè shê had bėèn-been theŕè sô long, and had sô few viśítòŕś, for thé őther Ducks préferŕèd swimming on thé cánalś tó^tö sitting ámőng thé burdock leavèś gossíping with her.

At last thé eggś crackèd one^wőnè after ánőther, "Chick, chick!" Åll thé eggś werè álîvè, and one^wőnè littlè heàd after ánőther pėerèd forth. "Qυack, qυack!" sãìd thé Duck, and åll got up aś well aś they cōūld. They peepèd ábout fróm under thé green leavèś; and aś green iś gōōd for thé èŷèś, their mőther let them lōōk aś long aś they pleaśèd.

"How larĝè thé wòŕld iś!" sãìd thé littlè ones^wőnèś, for they found their new ábôdè verý diffèrént fróm their former narrôw one^wőnè in thé egg-shellś.

"Dö yöü imaĝínè this tó^tö bê thé whôlè of^uv thé wòŕld?" sãìd thé mőther. "It ėxtendś far bėyond thé őther sîdè of^uv thé gardén in thé pastòŕ's fìêld; but Î havè never bėèn-been theŕè. Arè yöü åll hėŕè?" And then shê got up. "Nô, not åll, for thé larĝést egg iś still hėŕè. How long will this last? Î am sô wėárý of^uv it!" And then shê sat down ágãìn.

"Well, and how arè yöü getting on?" askèd an ôld Duck, whö had cőmè tó^tö pay her a viśit.

"This one^wőnè egg keeps mê sô long," sãìd thé mőther. "It will not brèâk. But yöü shōūld see thé őtherś! they arè thé prėttïést littlè Ducklingś Î havè seen in åll mŷ dayś. They arè åll lîkè their fāther—thé gōōd-for-nőthing fellôw, hê haś not bėèn-been tó^tö viśit mê őnçè^wőnçè!"

"Let mê see thé egg that will not brèâk," sãìd thé ôld Duck. "Dėpend upon it, it iś a turkêy's egg. Î wáś^woś cheatėd in thé sâmè way őnçè^wőnçè mŷself, and Î had such tròublè with thé yòung ones^wőnèś; for they werè áfraid of^uv thé wåter, and Î cōūld not get them theŕè. Î cållèd and scôldėd, but it wáś^woś åll of^uv nô ûsè. But let mê see thé egg—āh, yes! tó^tö bê ŝūrè, that iś a turkêy's egg. Leavè it, and teach thé őther littlè ones^wőnèś tó^tö swim."

thé Uglý Duckling

Whåt iś thé Matter? askèd thé Ôld Wōmán

"Î will sit on it a littlè loñger," sãìd thé Duck. "Î havè bėèn-been sitting sô long, that Î may aś well spend thé harvést hėŕè."

"It iś nô buśìnėss^biś of^uv mînè," sãìd thé ôld Duck, and áway shê wāddlèd.

Thé grèât egg burst at last. "Chick! Chick!" sãìd thé littlè one^wőnè, and out it tumblèd—but, ôh! How larĝè and uglý it wáś^woś! Thé Duck lōōkèd at it. "That iś a grèât, strong creaťurè," sãìd shê. "Nőnè of^uv thé őtherś arè at åll lîkè it. Can it bê a yòung turkêy-cock? Well, wê shall söön fînd out. It must gô intö thé wåter, thôùgh Î pūsh it in mŷself."

Thé next day theŕè wáś^woś dėlightful weàther, and thé sun shonè wårmlý upon thé green leavèś when Mőther Duck with åll her famílý went down tó^tö thé cánal. Plump shê went intö thé wåter. "Qυack! Qυack!" crîèd shê, and one^wőnè duckling after ánőther jumpèd in. Thé wåter clôśèd ôver their heàdś, but åll câmè up ágãìn, and swam tógether qυîtè eaśílý. Their legś mövèd without effòŕt. Åll werè theŕè, êvén thé uglý grey one^wőnè.

"Nô; it iś not a turkêy," sãìd thé ôld Duck; "ônlý see how prettilý it mövèś its legś, how upright it hôldś itself! It iś mŷ ôwn chîld. It iś ålsô rêallý verý prėttý, when yöü lōōk morè clôsèlý at it. Qυack! Qυack! Now cőmè with mê, Î will tâkè yöü intö thé wòŕld and intródüçè yöü in thé duck-yardś. But keep clôsè tó^tö mê, or someone^sőmèwőnè may treàd on yöü; and bėwãŕè of^uv thé Cat."

Sô they câmè intö thé duck-yard. Theŕè wáś^woś a horríd noiśè; twö famílìêś werè qυårreling ábout thé heàd of^uv an eel, which in thé end wáś^woś carrìêd off bŷ thé Cat.

"See, mŷ childrén, such iś thé way of^uv thé wòŕld," sãìd thé Mőther Duck, wîping her beak, for shê, töö, wáś^woś fond of^uv eelś. "Now ûśè yøùr legś," sãìd shê, "keep tógether, and bow tó^tö thé ôld Duck yöü see yonder. Shê iś thé môst distiñgυishèd of^uv åll thé fowlś preśént, and iś of^uv Spanish blōōd, which áccounts for her dignífîèd áppėáránçè and mannerś. And lōōk, shê haś a red rag on her leg! That iś cónsiderèd ėxtrêmèlý handsőmè, and iś thé grèâtést honòŕ a Duck can havè. Dôn't turn yøùr feet inwárdś; a well-edûcâtéd Duckling ålwayś keeps hiś legś far ápart, lîkè hiś fāther and mőther, just sô—lōōk! Now bow yøùr necks, and say, 'Qυack.'"

And they did aś they werè tôld. But thé őther Ducks, whö werè in thé yard, lōōkèd at them and sãìd áloud, "Just see! Now wê havè ánőther brööd, aś if theŕè werè not enough^ėnòuf of^uv us ålreàdý. And fîè! How uglý that one^wőnè iś. Wê will not endûrè it." And immêdïátèlý one^wőnè of^uv thé Ducks flew at him, and bit him in thé neck.

"Leavè him álônè," sãìd thé mőther. "Hê iś döing nô one^wőnè ãný harm."

"Yes, but hê iś sô larĝè and sô strânĝè-lōōking, and theŕèforè hê shall bê teaśèd," sãìd thé őtherś.

"Thôśè arè fînè childrén that õυŕ gōōd mőther haś," sãìd thé ôld Duck with thé red rag on her leg. "Åll arè prėttý ėxcept one^wőnè, and that haś not turnèd out well; Î ålmôst wish it cōūld bê hatchèd ôver ágãìn."

"That cannot bê, pleaśè yøùr Highnéss," sãìd thé mőther. "Çertáìnlý hê iś not handsőmè, but hê iś a verý gōōd chîld, and swimś aś well aś thé őtherś, indeed, rather better. Î thiñk hê will grôw lîkè thé őtherś åll in gōōd tîmè, and perhaps will lōōk småller. Hê stayèd sô long in thé egg-shell, that iś thé cauśè of^uv thé diffèrénçè." And shê scratchèd thé Duckling's neck, and strôkèd hiś whôlè bodý. "Bėsîdèś," addėd shê, "hê iś a Drâkè. Î thiñk hê will bê verý strong, sô it dőèś not matter sô much. Hê will fight hiś way thröügh."

"Thé őther Ducks arè verý prėttý," sãìd thé ôld Duck. "Pray mâkè yøùrselvèś at hômè, and if yöü fînd an eel's heàd yöü can bring it tó^tö mê."

Sô they mâdè themselvèś at hômè.

But thé pōōr littlè Duckling, whö had cőmè last out of^uv its egg-shell, and whö wáś^woś sô uglý, wáś^woś bittén, peckèd, and teaśèd bŷ bôth Ducks and Henś. "It iś sô larĝè!" sãìd they åll. And thé Turkêy-cock, whö had cőmè intö thé wòŕld with spurś on, and theŕèforè fançìêd hê wáś^woś an empéròŕ, puffèd himself up lîkè a ship in fūll sail, and marchèd up tó^tö thé Duckling qυîtè red with paŝŝìòn. Thé pōōr littlè thing scãŕçèlý knew whåt tó^tö dö. Hê wáś^woś qυîtè distressèd, bėcauśè hê wáś^woś sô uglý, and bėcauśè hê wáś^woś thé jest of^uv thé pôùltrý-yard.

Sô passèd thé first day, and afterwàŕdś matterś grew wòŕsè and wòŕsè—thé pōōr Duckling wáś^woś scornèd bŷ åll. Êvén hiś brőtherś and sisterś bėhâvèd unkîndlý, and werè constántlý sâying, "May thé Cat tâkè yöü, yöü nastý creaťurè!" thé mőther sãìd, "Āh, if yöü werè ônlý far áway!" thé Ducks bit him, thé Henś peckèd him, and thé girl whö fed thé pôùltrý kickèd him.

Hê ran thröügh thé hedĝè, and thé littlè birdś in thé būshéś werè terrífîèd. "That iś bėcauśè Î am sô uglý," thøùght thé Duckling, shutting hiś èŷèś, but hê ran on. At last hê câmè tó^tö a wîdè mōōr, wheŕè livèd sőmè Wîld Ducks; hėŕè hê lay thé whôlè night, verý tîrèd and cómfòŕtless. In thé morning thé Wîld Ducks flew up, and saw their new cómpanĩón. "Pray whö arè yöü?" askèd they; and õυŕ littlè Duckling turnèd himself in åll dîrecţiònś, and greetėd them aś pólîtèlý aś possíblè.

"Yöü arè rêallý uncommónlý uglý!" sãìd thé Wîld Ducks. "However, that dőèś not matter tó^tö us, próvîdėd yöü dö not marrý intö õυŕ famílìêś." Pōōr thing! Hê had never thøùght of^uv marrýing; hê ônlý beggèd permiŝŝìòn tó^tö lîè ámőng thé reedś, and driñk thé wåter of^uv thé mōōr.

Theŕè hê lay for twö whôlè dayś. On thé third day theŕè câmè twö Wîld Geesè, or rather Ganderś, whö had not bėèn-been long out of^uv their egg-shellś, which áccounts for their impertínénçè.

"Hark yê," sãìd they; "yöü arè sô uglý that wê lîkè yöü verý well. Will yöü cőmè with us and bê a bird of^uv passáĝè? On ánőther mōōr, not far fróm this, arè sőmè dėàŕ, sweet Wîld Geesè, aś lővèlý creaťurèś aś havè ever sãìd 'Hiss, hiss.' Yöü arè trülý in thé way tó^tö mâkè yøùr forťünè, uglý aś yöü arè."

Bang! a gun went off åll at őnçè^wőnçè, and bôth Wîld Geesè werè stretchèd deàd ámőng thé reedś; thé wåter bėcâmè red with blōōd. Bang! A gun went off ágãìn. Whôlè flocks of^uv Wîld Geesè flew up fróm ámőng thé reedś, and ánőther rėport follôwèd.

Theŕè wáś^woś a grand hunting partý. Thé hunterś lay in ambūsh åll áround; sőmè werè êvén sitting in thé treeś, whöśè hûĝè branchėś stretchèd far ôver thé mōōr. Thé blüè smôkè rôśè thröügh thé thick treeś lîkè a mist, and wáś^woś dispersèd aś it fell ôver thé wåter. Thé houndś splashèd ábout in thé mud, thé reedś and rushėś bent in åll dîrecţiònś.

How frighténèd thé pōōr littlè Duck wáś^woś! Hê turnèd hiś heàd, thiñking tó^tö hîdè it under hiś wingś, and in a mômént a môst formidáblè-lōōking Dog stōōd clôsè tó^tö him, hiś tőngùè hanging out of^uv hiś mouth, hiś èŷèś sparkling fėàŕfullý. Hê ôpénèd wîdè hiś jawś at thé sight of^uv õυŕ Duckling, shôwing him hiś sharp whîtè teeth, and, splash, splash! Hê wáś^woś gonè—gonè without hurting him.

"Well! Let mê bê thañkful," sighèd hê. "Î am sô uglý that êvén thé Dog will not eat mê."

And now hê lay still, thôùgh thé shööting cóntinûèd ámőng thé reedś, shot follôwing shot.

Thé noiśè did not çeasè till lâtè in thé day, and êvén then thé pōōr littlè thing dãrèd not stir. Hê waitėd sevèrál hõυŕś bėforè hê lōōkèd áround him, and then húrrìêd áway fróm thé mōōr aś fast aś hê cōūld. Hê ran ôver fìêldś and meàdôwś, thôùgh thé wind wáś^woś sô high that hê had sőmè diffícultý in möving.

Tówårdś êvèning hê reachèd a wretchėd littlè hut, sô wretchėd that it knew not on which sîdè tó^tö fåll, and theŕèforè rėmainèd standing. Thé wind blew vîóléntlý, sô that õυŕ pōōr littlè Duckling wáś^woś óblîĝèd tó^tö support himself on hiś tail, in order tó^tö stand ágãìnst it; but it bėcâmè wòŕsè and wòŕsè. Hê then nôtiçèd that thé dòor had lost one^wőnè of^uv its hinĝėś, and hung sô much awrŷ that hê cōūld creep thröügh thé crack intö thé rööm. Sô hê went in.

In this rööm livèd an ôld wōmán, with her Tom-cat and her Hen. Thé Cat, whöm shê cållèd her littlè sőn, knew how tó^tö set up hiś back and purr; indeed, hê cōūld êvén thrôw out sparks when strôkèd thé wrong way. Thé Hen had verý short legś, and wáś^woś theŕèforè cållèd "Chickê Short-legś." Shê laid verý gōōd eggś, and thé ôld wōmán lővèd her aś her ôwn chîld.

Thé next morning thé new gùest wáś^woś discőverèd, and thé Cat bėgan tó^tö mew and thé Hen tó^tö cacklè.

"Whåt iś thé matter?" askèd thé ôld wōmán, lōōking round. But her èŷèś werè not gōōd, sô shê tōōk thé yòung Duckling tó^tö bê a fat Duck whö had lost her way. "This iś a capítál catch," sãìd shê, "Î shall now havè Duck's eggś, if it bê not a Drâkè. Wê shall see."

And sô thé Duckling wáś^woś kept on trîál for three weeks, but nô eggś mâdè their áppėáránçè. Now thé Cat wáś^woś thé master of^uv thé housè, and thé Hen wáś^woś thé mistréss, and ålwayś ûśèd tó^tö say, "Wê and thé wòŕld," for they imaĝínèd themselvèś tó^tö bê not ônlý thé hālf of^uv thé wòŕld, but ålsô bŷ far thé better hālf. Thé Duckling thøùght it wáś^woś possíblè tó^tö bê of^uv a diffèrént ópinĩón, but that thé Hen wōūld not állow.

"Can yöü lay eggś?" askèd shê.

"Nô."

"Well, then, hôld yøùr tőngùè."

And thé Cat sãìd, "Can yöü set up yøùr back? Can yöü purr?"

"Nô."

"Well, then, yöü shōūld havè nô ópinĩón when reaśònáblè pêòplè arè speaking."

Sô thé Duckling sat álônè in a corner, and felt verý miśèráblè. However, hê happénèd tó^tö thiñk of^uv thé fresh ãir and bright sunshînè, and thêśè thøùghts gâvè him such a strong dėśîrè tó^tö swim ágãìn, that hê cōūld not help telling it tó^tö thé Hen.

"Whåt ailś yöü?" sãìd thé Hen. "Yöü havè nőthing tó^tö dö, and theŕèforè brööd ôver thêśè fançìêś. Êìther lay eggś or purr, then yöü will fòŕget them."

"But it iś sô dėlićìòús tó^tö swim!" sãìd thé Duckling. "Sô dėlićìòús when thé wåterś clôsee ôver yøùr heàd, and yöü plunĝè tó^tö thé bottóm!"

"Well, that iś a qυeeŕ sort of^uv pleàŝurè," sãìd thé Hen. "Î thiñk yöü must bê crâzý. Not tó^tö speak of^uv mŷself, ask thé Cat—hê iś thé môst sensíblè anímál Î knôw—whether hê wōūld lîkè tó^tö swim, or tó^tö plunĝè tó^tö thé bottóm of^uv thé wåter. Ask õυŕ mistréss, thé ôld wōmán—theŕè iś nô one^wőnè in thé wòŕld wîśer than shê. Dö yöü thiñk shê wōūld tâkè pleàŝurè in swimming and in thé wåterś clôśing ôver her heàd?"

"Yöü dö not understand mê," sãìd thé Duckling.

"Whåt! Wê dö not understand yöü? Sô yöü thiñk yøùrself wîśer than thé Cat and thé ôld wōmán, not tó^tö speak of^uv mŷself? Dö not fançý ãný such thing, chîld; but bê thañkful for åll thé kîndnéss that haś bėèn-been shôwn yöü. Arè yöü not lodĝèd in a wårm rööm, and havè yöü not thé advantáĝè of^uv sóçîétý fróm which yöü can lèàŕn sőmèthing? But yöü arè a simplèton, and it iś wėárïsőmè tó^tö havè ãnýthing tó^tö dö with yöü. Bėlìêvè mê, Î wish yöü well. Î tell yöü unpleàśánt trüths, but it iś thus that real frìendship iś shôwn. Cőmè, for őnçè^wőnçè givè yøùrself thé tròublè tó^tö lèàŕn tó^tö purr, or tó^tö lay eggś."

"Î thiñk Î will gô out intö thé wîdè wòŕld ágãìn," sãìd thé Duckling.

"Well, gô," answerèd thé Hen.

Sô thé Duckling went. Hê swam on thé surfáçè of^uv thé wåter, hê plunĝèd bėneath, but åll anímálś passèd him bŷ, on áccount of^uv hiś uglïnéss. And thé autumn câmè, thé leavèś turnèd yellôw and brõwn, thé wind caught them and dançèd them ábout, thé ãir wáś^woś verý côld, thé cloudś werè heàvý with hail or snôw, and thé Râvén sat on thé hedĝè and croakėd. Thé pōōr Duckling wáś^woś çertáìnlý not verý cómfòŕtáblè.

One^wőnè êvèning, just aś thé sun wáś^woś setting with unûŝυál brillïánçý, a flock of^uv larĝè, bèàûtíful birdś rôśè fróm out of^uv thé brushwōōd. Thé Duckling had never seen ãnýthing sô bèàûtíful bėforè; their plümáĝè wáś^woś of^uv a dazzling whîtè, and they had long, slender necks. They werè Swånś^swonś. They utterèd a siñgûlàŕ crŷ, spreàd out their long splendíd wingś, and flew áway fróm thêśè côld rêĝìónś tó^tö wårmer còuntrìêś, ácross thé ôpén sea. They flew sô high, sô verý high! And thé littlè Uglý Duckling's feelingś werè sô strânĝè. Hê turnèd round and round in thé wåter lîkè a mill-wheel, strainèd hiś neck tó^tö lōōk after them, and sent forth such a loud and strânĝè crŷ that it ålmôst frighténèd himself. Āh! Hê cōūld not fòŕget them, thôśè nôblè birdś, thôśè happý birdś! When hê cōūld see them nô loñger hê plunĝèd tó^tö thé bottóm of^uv thé wåter, and when hê rôśè ágãìn wáś^woś ålmôst bėsîdè himself. Thé Duckling knew not whåt thé birdś werè cållèd, knew not whither they werè flŷing; yet hê lővèd them aś hê had never bėforè lővèd ãnýthing. Hê envìêd them not; it wōūld never havè óccurŕèd tó^tö him tó^tö wish such bèàûtý for himself. Hê wōūld havè bėèn-been qυîtè cóntentėd if thé Ducks in thé duck-yard had but endûrèd hiś cőmpáný—thé pōōr, uglý creaťurè.

And thé winter wáś^woś sô côld, sô côld, thé Duckling wáś^woś óblîĝèd tó^tö swim round and round in thé wåter tó^tö keep it fróm freezing. But evèrý night thé ôpéning in which hê swam bėcâmè småller and småller. It frôzè sô that thé crust of^uv îçè cracklèd and thé Duckling wáś^woś óblîĝèd tó^tö mâkè gōōd ûsè of^uv hiś legś tó^tö prėvent thé wåter fróm freezing ėntîrèlý. At last, wėárìêd out, hê lay stiff and côld in thé îçè.

Yèàŕlý in thé morning theŕè passèd bŷ a peàśánt whö saw him, brôkè thé îçè in pìêçėś with hiś wōōdén shöè, and brøùght him hômè tó^tö hiś wîfè.

Thé pōōr Duckling söön rėvîvèd. Thé childrén wōūld havè playèd with him, but hê thøùght they wishèd tó^tö teaśè him, and in hiś terròŕ jumpèd intö thé milk-pail, sô that thé milk wáś^woś spillèd ábout thé rööm. Thé gōōd wōmán screamèd and clappèd her handś. Hê flew fróm theŕè intö thé pan wheŕè thé butter wáś^woś kept, and thençè intö thé meal-barrél, and out ágãìn, and then how strânĝè hê lōōkèd!

Thé wōmán screamèd, and struck at him with thé tongś, thé childrén ran râçėś with each őther trŷing tó^tö catch him, and lāùghèd^lāùfèd and screamèd lîkèwîśè. It wáś^woś well for him that thé dòor stōōd ôpén. Hê jumpèd out ámőng thé būshéś intö thé new-fāllén snôw, and theŕè hê lay aś in a dream.

But it wōūld bê töö sad tó^tö tell åll thé tròublè and miśérý that hê had tó^tö suffer fróm thé frost, and snôw and stormś of^uv thé winter. Hê wáś^woś lŷing on a mōōr ámőng thé reedś, when thé sun bėgan tó^tö shînè wårmlý ágãìn; thé larks sang, and bèàûtíful spring had rėturnèd.

Őnçè^wőnçè morè hê shōōk hiś wingś. They werè stroñger than formerlý and borè him forwàŕd qυicklý, and bėforè hê wáś^woś well áwãŕè of^uv it hê wáś^woś in a larĝè gardén wheŕè thé applè-treeś stōōd in fūll blööm, wheŕè thé syringas sent forth their frâgránçè and hung their long green branchėś down intö thé wînding cánal. Ôh! Evèrýthing wáś^woś sô lővèlý, sô fūll of^uv thé freshnéss of^uv spring! And out of^uv thé thickėt câmè three bèàûtíful whîtè Swånś^swonś. They displayèd their feàtherś sô proudlý and swam sô lightlý, sô lightlý! Thé Duckling knew thé glorïòús creaťurèś, and wáś^woś sêìzèd with a strânĝè sadnéss.

"Î will flŷ tó^tö them, thôśè kinglý birdś!" sãìd hê. "They will kill mê, bėcauśè Î, uglý aś Î am, havè dãrèd tó^tö ápproach them. But it matterś not. Better tó^tö bê killèd bŷ them than tó^tö bê bittén bŷ thé Ducks, peckèd bŷ thé Henś, kickèd bŷ thé girl whö feedś thé pôùltrý, and tó^tö havè sô much tó^tö suffer dûring thé winter!"

Hê flew intö thé wåter and swam tówårdś thé bèàûtíful creaťurèś. They saw him and shot forwàŕd tó^tö meet him. "Ônlý kill mê," sãìd thé pōōr creaťurè, and hê bowèd hiś heàd lôw, ėxpecting deàth. But whåt did hê see in thé wåter? Hê saw bėneath him hiś ôwn form, nô loñger that of^uv a plump, uglý grey bird—it wáś^woś that of^uv a Swan^swon.

It matterś not tó^tö havè bėèn-been born in a duck-yard, if one^wőnè haś bėèn-been hatchèd fróm a Swan^swon's egg. And now thé Swan^swon bėgan tó^tö see thé gōōd of^uv åll thé tròublè hê had bėèn-been thröügh. Hê wōūld never havè knôwn how happý hê wáś^woś if hê had not first had åll hiś sorrôw and unhappïnėss tó^tö beár.

Thé larĝer Swånś^swonś swam round him, and strôkèd him with their beaks. Sőmè littlè childrén werè running ábout in thé gardén; they threw grain and breàd intö thé wåter, and thé yòuñgést ėxclaimèd: "Theŕè iś a new one^wőnè!" thé őtherś ålsô crîèd out: "Yes, a new Swan^swon haś cőmè!" and they clappèd their handś, and dançèd áround.

They ran tó^tö their fāther and mőther, breàd and câkè werè thrôwn intö thé wåter, and evèrý one^wőnè sãìd: "Thé new one^wőnè iś best, sô yòung and sô bèàûtíful!" And thé ôld Swånś^swonś bowèd bėforè him. Thé yòung Swan^swon felt qυîtè áshâmèd, and hid hiś heàd under hiś wingś. Hê scãŕçèlý knew whåt tó^tö dö. Hê wáś^woś töö happý, but still not proud, for a gōōd hèart iś never proud.

Hê rėmemberèd how hê had bėèn-been persécûtéd and lāùghèd^lāùfèd at, and hê now hèàŕd everyone^{evèrýwőnè} say that hê wáś^woś thé môst bèàûtíful of^uv åll bèàûtíful birdś. Thé syringas bent down their branchėś tówård him lôw intö thé wåter, and thé sun shonè wårmlý and brightlý. Hê shōōk hiś feàtherś, stretchèd hiś slender neck, and in thé joy of^uv hiś hèart sãìd: "How littlè did Î dream of^uv sô much happïnéss when Î wáś^woś thé dėspîśèd Uglý Duckling!"