Chapter 120
The Ugly DucklingIT was lovely summer weather in the country, and the
golden corn, the green oats, and the haystacks piled up in the
meadows looked beautiful. The stork walking about on his long red
legs chattered in the Egyptian language, which he had learnt from
his mother. The corn-fields and meadows were surrounded by large
forests, in the midst of which were deep pools. It was, indeed,
delightful to walk about in the country. In a sunny spot stood a
pleasant old farm-house close by a deep river, and from the house
down to the water side grew great burdock leaves, so high, that
under the tallest of them a little child could stand upright. The
spot was as wild as the centre of a thick wood. In this snug
retreat sat a duck on her nest, watching for her young brood
