TUE UGLY DUCKLING. 53]

large the world is, to be sure !” said the young ones ; and truly
enough they had rather more room than when they were still
in the egg-shell— Do you fancy this is the whole world?”
cried the mother, “why it reaches far away beyond the other
side of the garden, down to the parson’s field—though I never
went to such a distance as that. But are you all there? ” con-
tinued she, rising. No, faith! you are not ; for there still
lies the largest egg. I wonder how long this business is to last ?
I really begin to grow quite tired of it ;’ and she sat down once
more.

“Well, how are you getting on?” enquired an old duck who
came to pay her a visit. —“ This egg takes a deal of hatching,”
answered the sitting duck ; “it won’t break. But just look at
the others, they not the prettiest ducklings ever seen?
‘They are the image of their father, who, by the bye, does not
trouble himself to come and see me.”—* Let me look at the egg
that won't break,” quoth the old duck. Take my word for
it, it must be a guinea-fowl’s egg. I was once deceived in the
same way, and I bestowed a deal of care and anxiety on the
youngsters, fur they are afraid of water. I could not make
them take to it. I stormed and raved, but it was of no use.
Let's see the egg. Sure enough it is a guinea-fowl’s egg. Leave
it alone and set about teaching the other children to swim.” —
“ T'IL just sit upon it a bit longer,” said the duck, “for sinee I
have sat so long, afew days won't make much odds.”— Please
yourself,” said the old duck as she waddled away.

At length the large egg cracked. “ Peep ! peep!” squeaked
the youngster, as he crept out. How big and ugly he was, to
be sure!

The duck looked at him, saying: “ Really this is a most
enormous duckling ; none of the others are like him. I wonder
whether it is a guinea-chick after all? Well, we shall soon

uM