HANSEL AND GRETEL

Hard by a great forest dwelt a poor wood-cutter with his wife and his two children.The boy was called Hansel and the girl Gretel. He had little to bite and to break, and once when great scarcity fell on the land, he could no longer procure daily bread.Now when he thought over this by night in his bed and tossed about in his anxiety, he groaned and said to his wife,"what is to become of us? How are we to feed our poor children, when we no longer have anything even for ourselves? I'll tell you what, husband, answered the woman.

Early tomorrow morning we will take the children out into the forest to where it is the thickest, there we will light a fire for them and give each of them one piece of bread more, and then we will go to our work and leave them alone.They will not find the way home again, and we shall be rid of them. No, wife, said the man,"I will not do that; how can I bear to leave my children alone in the forest? the wild animals would, soon come and tear them to pieces." Oh, thou fool! said she,"Then we must all four die of hunger, thou may est as well plane the planks for our coffins, and she left him no peace until he consented."But I feel very sorry for the poor children, all the same, said the man.

The two children had also not been able to sleep for hunger and had heard what their step-mother had said to their father. Gretel wept bitter tears and said to Hansel,"Now all is over with us. "Be quiet, Gretel," said Hansel, do not distress they self. I will soon find a way to help us.And when the old folks had fallen asleep, he got up, put on his little coat, opened the door below, and crept outside. The moon shone brightly, and the white pebbles which lay in front of the house glittered like real silver pennies.Hansel stooped and put as many of them in the little pocket of his coat as he could possibly get in. Then he went back and said to Gretel."Be comforted, dear little sister, and sleep in peace. God will not forsake us, and he lay down again in his bed.

When day dawned, but before the sun had risen, the woman came and awoke the two children, saying,"Get up, you sluggards! we are going into the forest to fetch wood". She gave each a little piece of bread, and said,"there is something for your dinner, but do not eat it up before then, for you will get nothing else."Gretel took the bread under her apron, as Hansel had the stones in his pocket. Then they all set out together on the way to the forest. When they had walked a short time, Hansel stood still and peeped back at the house, and did so again and again. His father said,"Hansel, what art thou looking at there and staying behind for? mind what thou art about, and do not forget how to use the legs."

Ah, Father, said Hansel! I am looking at my little white cat, which is sitting up on the roof until the moon has risen, and then we will soon find the way. "And when the full moon had risen, Hansel took his little sister by the hand, and followed the pebbles which shone like newly-coined silver pieces, and showed them the way.

They walked the whole night long, and by break of day came once more to their father's house. They knocked at the door, and when the woman opened it and saw that it was Hansel and Gretel. She said, "You naughty children, why have you slept so long in the forest? we thought you were never coming back at all! The Father, however, rejoiced, for it had cut him to the heart to leave them behind alone.

Not long afterwards, there was once more great scarcity in all parts, and the children heard their mother saying at night to their father, "Everything is eaten again, we have one-half loaf left, and after that, there is an end. The children must go, we will take them farther into the wood so that they will not find their way out again; there are no other means of saving ourselves!" The man's heart was heavy, and he thought "it would be better for them to share the last mouthful with the children.

The woman, however, would listen to nothing that he had to say, but scolded and reproached him.He who says A must say B, like wise, and as he had yielded the first time, he had to do so a second time also. The children were, however, still awake and had heard the conversation. When the old folks were asleep, Hansel again got up and wanted to go out and pick up pebbles, but the woman had locked the door, and Hansel could not get out. Nevertheless, he comforted his little sister, and said, "Do not cry, Gretel, go to sleep quietly, the good God will help us."

Early in the morning came the woman, and took the children out of their beds. Their bit of bread was given to them, but it was still smaller than the time before. On the way into the forest, Hansel crumbled his in his pocket, and often stood still and threw a morsel on the ground. "Hansel, why dost thou stop and look round?" said the father, "go on. "I am looking back at my little pigeon which is sitting on the roof, and wants to say goodbye to me," answered Hansel."simpleton!" said the woman, that is not thy little pigeon, that is the morning sun that is shining on the chimney. 
Hansel, however, little by little, threw all the crumbs on the path.

The woman led the children still deeper into the forest, where they had never in their lives been before. Then a great fire was again made, and the mother said, just sit there, you children, and when you are tired you may sleep a little; we are going into the forest to cut wood, and in the evening when we are done, we will come and fetch you away. When it was noon, Gretel shared her piece of bread with Hansel, who had shared her piece of bread with Hansel, who had scattered his by the way. Then they fell asleep and evening came and went, but no one came to the poor children.

They did not awake until it was a dark night, and Hansel comforted his little sister and said. Just wait, Gretel, until the moon rises, and then we shall see the crumbs of bread which I have strewn about, they will show us our way home again. When the moon came they set out, but they found no crumbs, for the many thousands of birds which fly about in the woods and fields, had picked them all up. Hansel said Gretel, we shall soon find the way, but they did not find it. They walked the whole night and all the next day too from morning till evening, but they did not get out of the forest, and were very hungry, for they had nothing to eat but two or three berries, which grew on the ground.

And as they were so weary that their legs would carry them no longer, they lay down beneath a tree and fell asleep. It was now three mornings since they had left their father's house. They began to walk again, but they always got deeper into the forest, and if help did not come soon, they must die of hunger and weariness. When it was mid-day, they saw a beautiful snow-white bird sitting on a bough, which sang so delightfully that they stood still and listened to it. And when it had finished its song, it spread its wings and flew away before them, and they followed it until they reached a little house, on the roof of which it alighted; and when they came quite up to little house they saw that it was built of bread and covered with cakes, but that the windows were of clear sugar.

We will set to work on that, said Hansel, and have a good meal. I will eat a bit of the roof, and thou, Gretel, canst eat some of the windows, it will taste sweet. Hansel reached up above and broke off a little of the roof to try how it tasted, and Gretel leant against the window and nibbled at the panes. Then a soft voice cried from the room.

           "Nibble, nibble, gnaw,
             who is nibbling at my little house?"
     The children answered,
             "The wind, the wind,
               The heaven-born wind,"

and went on eating without disturbing them. Hansel, who thought the roof tasted very nice, tore down a great piece of it, and Gretel pushed out the whole of one round window-pane, sat down and enjoyed herself with it. Suddenly the door opened, and a very, very old woman, who supported herself on crutches, came creeping out. Hansel and Gretel were so terribly frightened that they let fall what they had in their hands. The old woman, however, nodded her head, and said, "Oh, you dear children, who have brought you here? Do come in, and stay with me. No harm shall happen to you. She took them both by the hand and led them into her little house. Then good food was set before them, milk and pancakes, with sugar, apples and nuts.

Afterwards, two pretty little beds were covered with clean white linen, and Hansel and Gretel lay down in them and thought they were in heaven. The old woman had only pretended to be so kind; she was, in reality, a wicked witch, who lay in wait for children, and had only built the little bread house in order to entice them there. When a child fell into her power, she killed it, cooked and ate it, and that was a feast day with her. Witches have red eyes, and cannot see far, but they have a keen scent like the beasts and are aware when human beings draw near. When Hansel and Gretel came into her neighbourhood, she laughed maliciously, and said mockingly,"I have them, they shall not escape me again!" Early in the morning before the children were awake, she was already up, and when she saw both of them sleeping and looking so pretty, with their plump red cheeks, she muttered to herself, "that will be a dainty mouthful!"

Then she seized Hansel with her shrivelled hand, carried him into a little stable, and shut him in with a grated door. He might scream as he liked, that was of no use. Then she went to Gretel, shook her till she awoke, and cried, "Get up, lazy thing, fetch some water, and cook something good for thy brother, he is in the stable outside, and is to be made fat. When he is fat, I will eat him. Gretel began to weep bitterly, but it was all in vain, she was forced to do what the wicked witch ordered her.

And now the best food was cooked for poor Hansel, but Gretel got nothing but crab-shells. Every morning the woman crept to the little stable, and cried, "Hansel, stretch out thy finger that I may feel if thou wilt soon is fat." Hansel, however, stretched out a little bone to her, and the old woman, who had dim eyes, could not see it and thought it was Hansel's finger, and was astonished that were was no way of fattening him. When four weeks had gone by, and Hansel still continued thin, she was seized with impatience and would not wait any longer, "Hola, Gretel," She cried to the girl, "be active and bring some water. Let Hansel be fat or lean, tomorrow I will kill him, and cook him."

"Ah, how the poor little sister did lam net when she had to fetch the water, and how her tears did flow down over her cheeks!" Dear God, do help us, "she cried. If the wild beasts in the forest had but devoured us, we should, at any rate, have died together. Just keep the noise to thyself, said the old woman, all that won't help them at all.

Early in the morning, Gretel had to go out and hang up the cauldron with the water, and light the fire. "We will bake first," said the old woman," I have already heated the oven, and kneaded the dough. "She pushed poor Gretel out to the oven, from which flames of fire were already darting. "Creep in," said the witch, and see if it is properly heated so that we can shut the bread in. And when once Gretel was inside, she intended to shut the oven and let her bake in it, and then she would eat her, too.

But Gretel saw what she had in her mind, and said, "I do not know how I am to do it; how do you get in?" silly goose, said the old woman."The door is big enough, just look, I can get in myself!" and she crept up and thrust her head into the oven. Then Gretel gave her a push that drove her far into it, and shut the iron door, and fastened the bolt.

Oh! then she began to howl quite horribly, but Gretel ran away, and the godless witch was miserably burnt to death. Gretel, however, ran like lightning to Hansel, opened his little stable, and cried,"Hansel, we are saved! The old witch is dead!" then Hansel sprang out like a bird from its cage when the door is opened for it. 
How they did rejoice and embrace each other, and dance about and kiss each other!  And as they had no longer any need to fear her, they went into the witch's house, and in every corner there stood chests full of pearls and jewels.

These are far better than pebbles! said Hansel, and thrust into his pockets whatever could be got in, and Gretel said, I, too, will take something home with me, and filled her pinafore full. "But now we will away," said Hansel, that we may get out of the witch's forest. When they had walked for two hours, they came to a great piece of water. We cannot get over, said Hansel, I see no foot-plank, and no bridge. And no boat crosses either, answered Gretel, but a white duck is swimming there; if I ask her, she will help us over. Then she cried,

                          "Little duck, little duck, dost thou see,
                           Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?
                           There's never a plank or bridge in sight,
                           Take us across on thy back so white."

The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back and told his sister to sit by him. "No," replied Gretel, that will be too heavy for the little duck. She shall take us across, one after the other. The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length, they saw from afar their father's house.

Then they began to run, rushed into the par four, and threw themselves into their father's arms. The man had not known one happy hour since he had left the children in the forest; the woman, however, was dead. Gretel emptied her pinafore until pearls and precious stones ran about the room, and Hansel threw one handful after another out of his pocket to add to them. Then all anxiety was at an end, and they lived together in perfect happiness. My tale is done, there runs a mouse, whosoever catches it, may make himself a big fur cap out of it.

THE TORTOISE AND THE EAGLE

A young tortoise was lazing around the river bank looking at the birds flying in the sky.He stared at them and started thinking out loud! I wish I could fly like those birds.Up high in the sky and watch the beautiful sceneries and beauty of the world from the top of the world.Oh! I so wish that! 

Near by an Eagle was sitting on a stone listening to what the tortoise was thinking out loud and couldn't resist but ask.

Eagle:  Why do you want to fly? you should be happy with what you are gifted with

Tortoise: I wish I could fly, with no trouble of crawling on the ground!

Eagle: So say that you want to fly because you don't want to crawl.Not because you wish to see the world from the sky! Anyway, what will I get in return for making you fly in the sky?

Tortoise:  I'll give you the riches of gold from the red sea so the eagle grabbed the tortoise in its claws and soared up high in the sky making him see all the beautiful sceneries of the world flying higher in the clouds and closer to the stars.It was indeed a mesmerizing moment for the tortoise. While the eagle was flying over the river bank the rest of the tortoise were basking in the sun. Suddenly the tortoise flying high up in the sky said.

Tortoise: I wish my friends could watch me flying so high in the sky.I am sure they would get jealous watching me.

Eagle: What? Why would you want your friends to get jealous of you?

Tortoise: I want them to see that I can fly and they can not! it's such a nice feeling!

What an evil friend tortoise is! thought the Eagle with this, the eagle dropped him on the ground and asked for his treasure.

Eagle: Now give me my reward.

Tortoise: ha...ha..ha...There is no reward! I was just kidding about that you could take me for a ride.

And with this, the tortoise left.The eagle couldn't tolerate his insult and decided to teach him a lesson.

So the next day the eagle went to the tortoise and said

Eagle: Hey! would you like to go for a sky ride again?

Tortoise: Yes! sure! I would love to!

The eagle once again picked him up and clenched him in his claws.The tortoise, while he was enjoying the ride said to the eagle

Tortoise: Why did you bring me again for the ride even though I dishonoured my promise of rewarding you!

Eagle: That's because of tortoise, you wished to make your friends jealous but at my cost and now I'll let you enjoy the free fall!

The eagle let his claws loose and the tortoise went falling down screaming for help and flying no longer he crashed on the ground with a thud. Thanks to his shell, he didn't get injured.Soon his old friends surrounded him and said.Hey, our young friend you wanted to see the world from high up in the sky.To dream big is not a sin but to dream it at the cost of others is does not justiciable!

Tortoise: I have learnt my lesson now.I should be thankful to God for what I am blessed with.It was my shell only that saved my life.I should be happy with what I have and also should not use others for my selfish reason. I surely have learnt my lessons!

Moral: One should think about the consequences before one wishes for something.

THE FOX AND THE GOAT

On a long sunny day, there was a Fox walking in a desert.Hungry and thirsty all that he could see was miles of sand and barren rocks.
The  Fox feels so hot! he needs water badly. He kept on walking and suddenly he saw a well.

Fox: Thank God! I finally found a well.Now I will no longer be thirsty.

He ran and ran in great excitement. The moment he leapt on the wall of the well to check water he lost his balance and fell in the well.

Fox:  Help...help....! somebody please help me! This well is really deep.How would I ever get out of this place?

Near by a Goat was passing the well.When she heard the fox she went to peep over the well.

Goat: Hey Fox! what are you doing inside this well?

Fox: Oh! Goat isn't it too hot outside? I just came into this well to cool myself off.Why don't you also hop in and enjoy this cool and refreshing water?

Not even thinking for a second, the Goat jumped into the well.

Goat: Hey! Fox, you were right! This water is actually very refreshing.I could spend all my day out here.

After some time, the goat stops and asks the fox.

Goat: How in the world will we manage to get out of this well?

Fox: Oh! It's going to be simple.If you stand on your two feet and push me up I can manage to reach the top of the well and then pop out of the well.

The goat, once again without thinking twice does as the fox said.

Goat: Hey Fox! What about me? How would I get out?

Fox: ha..ha...ha....i  guess you have to think about it on your own.

Goat: But I helped you get out of the well.

Fox: Who asked you to? You should have thought about the consequences before taking any actions.

THE CLEVER MONKEY

Once upon a time on a riverside, lived a monkey on a tree.The place was a paradise for him because just hopping on a stone he used to reach a small island in the middle of the river. Which was adorned by choices and juiciest of fruits?In the vicinity of the island there lived a crocodile couple and every day they used to drool at the monkey hopping in and out of the island. But the monkey was so clever that the crocodile couple never managed to lay their hands on the monkey.One day the female crocodile said Dear husband I have a plan to nab this monkey.


Husband Crocodile: Ahhh! none of our tricks has worked with this clever monkey. What brilliant idea do you have now?

The female crocodile whispered in his ears and all he could do was laugh sheepishly!

The next day when the Monkey was busy feasting on fruits on the island the crocodile very silently went and sat on the stone. When the monkey was done with eating he was about to hop on to the stone when suddenly he realized that the stone is looking bigger than usual.He understood that it was a crocodile waiting for him, he called out to the crocodile.

Monkey: Is that you Mr Crocodile?

Crocodile: No no it's not me!

And the monkey thought how dumb could the crocodile get! so he thought for a second and called out to the crocodile!

Monkey: Oh! you surely caught me this time! I'll make your job easier now! Just open your mouth and I'll jump into it on my own.

The foolish crocodile opened his wide mouth his eyes shut and waited for the monkey to jump.The clever monkey who was watching the closed eye crocodile hoped on the head of the crocodile and crossed the river.

Monkey: You couldn't fool me this time either! By clear and clever thinking the monkey managed to trick the foolish crocodile.

Moral: we must think before we do anything like that clever monkey and not like that foolish crocodile.

THE FOX AND THE STORK

Once upon a time, there lived a very cunning Fox always wanted to cheat and deceive other with its awful and stupid acts.The Fox used to deceive others with its sneaky mind. He used to speak to other animals sweetly to make him trust worthy. One day he tried to cheat and have fun with a stork.He befriended the Stork and gained the trust.The Fox acted like a very good friend and cared a lot for the stork.One day, he invited the stork to have a feast with him and he wanted to treat his friend with delicious food.

The happy stork accepted the invitation. The Fox promised to offer rich tasty food for the stork.Considering the delicious dinner proposed by the fox, the stork remained hungry for the whole day. The cunning Fox offered the soup in a shallow bowl. The stork was stunned to have the soup in the shallow bowl! The long bill of the stork prevented it to take the soup.

As the fox easily licked the soup from the plate, the stork wasn't able to even taste a bit of the soup.It just touched the soup with the tip of its bill.The fox asked the stork,"How is the soup? Don't you like it?" The hungry stork replied,'oh it is good, but I have stomach upset and I can't take any more soup!' I'm sorry for troubling you', said the fox.The stork replied 'oh dear please don't say sorry. I have some health problem and can't enjoy what you offer.Please take care of your health'.


She left the place thanking the fox! However, the stork understands that it was cheated by the fox and decided to teach him a lesson. After a few days, the fox met the stork again and decided to play another prank on the stork. This time it was the stork's turn.The stork welcomed the fox happily and invited to pay a return visit to have a dinner.


The fox was happy and they decided on a date to have the dinner.The stork asked the fox's favourite food and offered to cook the same for the dinner. The day arrived and the fox reached the stork's place. The stork served soup to the Fox and asked him to have soup first.

The soup was served in a narrow jar with a long-neck.The stork was able to drink the soup very easily with its long bill, however, the fox couldn't, The Stork asked the fox to enjoy the soup. And showed several delicious dishes in long-necked jars. The disappointed Fox said.'My stomach is very painful.I'm leaving now' and left the place running.

THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL

One day a Fox was walking in a forest.Suddenly he heard a huge snap and an immediate reaction he jumped but something awful happened to the poor little thing. He found his tail stuck in a trap and this gave a sharp pain in his rear.

Fox: Oh! Ah! That hurts so much! oh! My tail is stuck in a trap. What would I do now?

After battling for long with his tail and the trap he gave a final try to it and with that came another snapping voice. Tears coming out of his eyes, the fox mourned.

Fox:  Oh! My tail! my tail! I lost my furry beautiful tail! what would I do now? I'll become laughing stalk of my skull now! this is so embarrassing!
And he walked deeper into the forest with his head bowed down in sorrow. When suddenly an idea struck his mind! He decided to call a meeting of all his friends!

Fox: I have gathered you for a reason today! while walking through the forest, I kept wondering we have eyes, nose, ears, teeth, legs, all for some reasons.But, why, why do we need a tail? It's a useless thing and keeps bothering us for some reason or the other.
It either gets in way of your sitting or when kept outside, is left for someone to trip over. So after a deep thought, I cut off my tail and want you to do the same.It feels great without that useless thing.

The skulk of Fox kept looking at the fox in amazement as to what he was saying.

Fox: It's true but nobody has really thought about them without the tail! It surely would be painful to do that.

Mean While a young fox jumped on to the higher place and addressed the skull.

Young Fox: Are you saying this because you no longer have a beautiful furry tail? here you are just talking about your self-interest so that you don't get embarrassed and feel left out of the skull.


And the rest of the skulk went off laughing away and discussing as to how selfish and mean the fox is.In order to not feel embarrassed, he wants everyone to chop off their tails!

The Fox and The Sick Lion

Once upon a time, there lived a Lion in the forest.As the Lion was developing ancient he used to be unable to hunt for his food.He thought that without food he will die of starvation. So, the Lion concept of a plan. He decided to lie down in the cave and pretend that he is ill. And whoso ever will come to meet him will emerge as his prey.

Being the king of the jungle.The lion announced he was once ill and summoned the animals to come and hear his remaining will.The Lion put his sinful format to practice and it started working.Poor animals didn't understand about his depraved diagram and fell into his trap.Many of his nice wishers obtained killed.One day a fox came to visit the in poor health Lion.The fox was once sensible and discovered the trick.

He stood on the outdoor of the cave, at a respectful distance, and asked....

Fox: How are you, sir?

Lion: I am not feeling well at all.But, why do not you come inside to meet me?

Fox: No, thank you, sir,"I am aware that there are many prints of feet getting into your cane, but I see no trace of any returning". Still, if I come internally I would be a fool.

And the fox saved his life and informed other animals too.

Moral:  You should never trust a fake person.

The Monkey and The Dolphin

One day long ago,some sailors set out to sea in their sailing ship.One of them brought his pet monkey along with him. When they were far out at sea, A terrible storm over turned their ship. Everyone fell into the sea, and the monkey was sure that he would drown.

Suddenly a dolphin appeared & picked him up. They soon reached the island and the monkey came down from the dolphin's back. The dolphin asked the monkey, "Do you know this place?"

The monkey replied,"yes, I do.In fact, the king of the island is my best friend.Do you know that I am actually a prince?"
knowing that no one lived on the island,the dolphin said,"well,well,so you are a prince! Now you can be a king!" The monkey asked,How can I be a King?"
As the dolphin started swimming away,he answered, "that is easy.As you are the only creature on this island,you will naturally be the king!"

Moral: Those who lie & boast may end up in trouble.

A Merchant and his Donkey

One beautiful spring morning, a merchant loaded his donkey with bags of salt to go to the market in order to sell them.The merchant and his donkey were walking along together.They had not walked far when they reached a river on the road.

Unfortunately, the donkey slipped & fell into the river & noticed that the bags of salt loaded on his back became lighter. There was nothing the merchant could do,expect return home where he loaded his donkey with more bags of salt.

As they reached the slippery river bank,now deliberately, the donkey fell into the river & wasted all the bags of salt on its back again. The merchant quickly discovered the donkey's trick. He then returned home again,but re-loaded his donkey with bags of sponges.


The foolish donkey again set on its way. On reaching the river,he again fell into the water. But instead of the load becoming lighter,it became heavier. The merchant laughed at him & said: "You foolish donkey, your trick had been discovered ,you should know that.....

Moral:  Those who are too clever sometimes over reach themselves.

The Ant and The Grasshopper

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about,chirping and singing to its heart's content.An Ant passed by,bearing along with great effort an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

Grasshopper said to the Ant,"come & chat with me, instead of toiling and moiling away!"
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter,"
said the Ant,"and recommend you to do the same" 
"why bother about winter?"
said the Grasshopper;"we have got plenty of food at present."

But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came,the Grasshopper found itself dying of hunger,
While it saw the ants distributing every day, corn&grain from the stores they had collected in the summer.
Then the Grasshopper remembered Ant's words.

Moral: Work today & you can reap the benefits tomorrow.

The Ugly Duckling

Once near a beautiful pond there lived a handsome duck couple.They were very excited as their babies were about to get hatched from the eggs.The papa duck was so eager to see his babies that all he could do was roam here&there in anxiety.Suddenly what they hear is sweet little quack quacks coming from the nest and the papa duck just rushes to the nest to catch the first glimpse of his babies.

Papa duck: Oh my god! They are so lovely!

Suddenly a hoarse quack comes from below Mamma duck.

Mamma duck: You are so ugly and pale.You can't be our baby!

The papa and mamma duck along with their four babies sail away far away from the ugly duckling,leaving him behind in dismay and all alone.The poor duckling doesn't know whats wrong with him.He checks his wings his beak his feet,but all looks fine.Suddenly he turns around and sees his reflection in the pond and what he sees sends him complete disappointment.

Ugly duckling: Nobody loves me,what would I do now? Where would I go? 

The ugly duckling starts walking in complete sadness.So many days,weeks and months pass by and the poor ugly duckling wanders all alone in the deep forest.Suddenly he stops and feels extremely cold.

Ugly duckling: Oh it is so cold. I wish I had a warm house too.

Suddenly a huge ball of snow comes rolling from behind and the poor duckling gets caught in that and starts screaming for help!

A wood cutter cutting the woods in a near by place hears the scream of the duckling and runs for help.

Wood cutter: Oh poor thing! come here, you need something warm to drink.

The wood cutter picks up the ugly duckling and keeps him in the warmth of his over coat. He takes him home and keeps him wrapped in a warm blanket right in front of the fireplace.

Wood cutter: Don't worry poor little thing.I will take care of you.

And like this many years pass by and the ugly duckling grew under the care of the wood cutter.But one thing he made sure never did he again saw his reflection again.One day on a sunny afternoon, he was wandering along the side of a lake.Suddenly he sees a wedge of swans, swimming in the pond.

Ugly duckling: Look at those swans,they look so beautiful! I wish I was a beautiful duck too. I have no friends because I am so ugly.I feel oh! so lonely.

To his amazement he sees the wedge of swans coming towards him.What he sees is the most beautiful swan ever.

Beautiful swan:  Hey, we have never seen you around, are you new here?

Ugly duckling:  No, I live near by with the wood cutter. It's just that I don't come out often.

Beautiful swan:  Why is that so?

Ugly duck:   Because I am an ugly duck.Nobody loves me,nobody wants me.

Not to his surprise he sees them laughing at him .He decides to turn back when suddenly he hears the voice of the beautiful swan.

Beautiful swan:  Wait! where are you going?

Ugly duckling:  See even you guys made fun of me, that's the reason I never come out.

Beautiful swan:  We laughed because you called yourself A duck.

Ugly duckling:   What do you mean?

Beautiful swan:  Yes! you are not a duck. You are a swan! And I haven't seen such a handsome swan ever in my life.

He couldn't believe of what he just heard and stood there in a state of shock! and after a few seconds managed to say

Ugly duckling: What?

The Beautiful swan held the hand of the duck and took him near the pond.See yourself! you are a swan! The ugly duckling very reluctantly bends over the water because he doesn't want to see the ugly him. But what he sees leaves him in total disbelief.

He is not a duck! He is a swan! A Handsome young Swan.

Ugly duckling: I am a swan

He jumps and flies and swims in sheer happiness and then suddenly stops to thank the beautiful swan.

Ugly duckling: Thank you so much for making me know who I am.

Beautiful swan: So now that you know you are a swan.Would you join our wedge? We would live together as a happy family.

Ugly duckling: Yes ! I would love to do that!

And then the ugly duckling. Oppps The handsome swan jumps into the water with the rest of the swans.