It was good for the city! It was summer . In the fields already gilded rye, oats turned green , the hay was smёtano in haystacks ; on the green meadow paced long-legged stork and chatted in Egyptian - this language he had learned from his mother. Over the fields and meadows darkened a large forest , and hid in the forest deep blue lake. Yes, it was out of town ! The sun lit the old manor house, surrounded by a deep ditch with water. All the earth - from the walls of the house to the water - overgrown with burdock , but so high that little children could stand under his biggest leaves upright.
In most burdock was as dull and wildly as in the dense forest , and there 's something sitting on eggs duck. She sat for a long time, and it is a lesson rather tired . In addition, it is rarely visited , - other ducks liked to swim in the grooves than sitting in a mug so quack with her.
Finally cracked eggshells .
Ducklings moved, rattled and beaks stuck head .
- Pip, pip ! - They said.
- Quack , quack ! - Said the duck . - Hurry up !
Ducklings muddled through somehow out of the shell and began to look around a circle , staring at the green leaves of burdock . Mother did not prevent them - Green good for the eyes .
- Oh, how great the world ! - Said the ducklings . Of course! Now it was much roomier than in the shell .
- Oh, do not you think , that here and the whole world ? - His mother said. - What is there! It stretches far, far away , there in the garden , in the field ... But , to be honest, I there he has never visited ! .. Well , everything has already been selected ? - Jonah rose to her feet . - Oh no , there's more ... The biggest egg tselehonkim ! But when will this be the end ! I soon lost all patience.
And she sat down again .
- Well, how are you? - Said the old duck, put his head into the depths of the mug .
- Why, with one egg I can not cope , - said the young duck. - Sit , sit , and it 's not burst . But look at those babies that have hatched. What a gem! All as one - his father ! And he, waste , not even to visit me any time!
- Hold on, show me something first egg, which does not burst , - said the old duck. - I do not indyusheche whether it is what is good? Well, yes , of course! .. That's exactly the same and I once spent . And how much trouble I was then with these turkeys ! You will not believe : they are afraid of water before , and that they are not driven into the ditch . Oh, I hissed , and quacks , and just pushed them into the water - do not go , and only. Let me take another look . Well, it is! Indyusheche ! Single Throw him yes , Go teach your children to swim!
- No, I think I 'll sit , - said the young duck. - Oh, so many suffered , which can be a little more patient.
- Come and stay ! - Said the old duck , and left. And finally, a large egg cracked .
- Peep ! Peep ! - Squeaked chick and fell out of the shell.
But what he was big and ugly ! Duck looked at it from all sides and clasped their wings.
- Terrible monster! - She said. - And it is not like the others ! I do not indyushonok whether it really? Well, in the water , he will visit me , even if I had to push him back by force!
The next day the weather was wonderful , green mug was bathed in sunlight .
Duck with his whole family went to the ditch . Plop ! - And she found herself in the water.
- Quack - quack ! Follow me! Alive! - She called, and the ducklings one by one into the water too bultyhnulis .
At first the water covered them with his head , but they are now emerged and perfectly floated forward. Foot and they have earned , and earned. Even the ugly gray duckling did not depart from the others.
- What kind of indyushonok ? - Said the duck . - Look how nice rowing legs ! And just hold on! No, this is my own son . Yes, he is not so far wrong , if a good look at it . Well, .zhivo , alive for me ! I'll bring you into the society - we will go to the poultry yard . Just hold me close to someone stepped on you, so watch out for the cats !
Soon duck with all her brood got to avian FEB