The Ugly Duckling
A little duckling was very sad because he thought he was the ugliest amongst all his
brothers and sisters. They would not play with him and teased the poor ugly duckling.
One day, he saw his reflection in the water and cried, “Nobody likes me. I am so ugly.”
He decided to leave home and went far away into the woods.
Deep in the forest, he saw a cottage in which there lived an old woman, her hen, and her
cat. The duckling stayed with them for some time but he was unhappy there and soon left.
When winter set in the poor duckling almost froze to death. A peasant took him home to
his wife and children. The poor duckling was terrified of the children and escaped. The
ugly duckling spent the winter in a marshy pond.
Finally, spring arrived. One day, the duckling saw a beautiful swan swimming in the pond
and fell in love with her. But then he remembered how everyone made fun of him and he bent his
head down in shame. When he saw his own reflection in the water he was astonished. He was not
an ugly duckling anymore, but a handsome young swan! Now, he knew why he had looked so different
from his brothers and sisters. “They were ducklings but I was a baby swan!” he said
to himself.
He married the beautiful swan and lived happily ever after.