"Then keep still," said the hen. The cat said, "Can you growl?"
[Illustration: THE CAT SAID, "CAN YOU GROWL?"]
"No," said the duckling.
"Then keep still," said the cat.
And the duckling hid in a corner. The next day he went for a walk. He
saw a big pond. He said, "I will have a good swim."
But all of the animals made fun of him. He was so ugly.
* * * * *
summer away cake
winter swans spring
flew bread leaves
The summer went by.
Then the leaves fell and it was very cold. The poor duckling had a
hard time.
It is too sad to tell what he did all winter.
At last it was spring.
The birds sang. The ugly duckling was big now.
One day he flew far away.
[Illustration: "OH, SEE THE LOVELY SWAN!"]
Soon he saw three white swans on the lake.
He said, "I am going to see those birds. I am afraid they will kill
me, for I am so ugly."
He put his head down to the water. What did he see? He saw himself in
the water. But he was not an ugly duck. He was a white swan.
The other swans came to see him.
The children said, "Oh, see the lovely swans. The one that came last
is the best."
And they gave him bread and cake.
It was a happy time for the ugly duckling.