1、The Portuguese Duckby Hans Christian Andersen（1861） A DUCK once arrived from Portugal， but therewere some who said she came from Spain， which isalmost the same thing. At all events， she was calledthe “Portuguese，” and she laid eggs， was killed，and cooked， and there was an end of her. But theduckli
2、ngs which crept forth from the eggs were alsocalled “Portuguese，” and about that there may besome question. But of all the family one onlyremained in the duckyard， which may be called a farmyard， as the chickens were admitted，and the cock strutted about in a very hostile manner.“He annoys me with h
3、is loud crowing，”said the Portuguese duck；“but， still， he's a handsome bird， there's no denying that，although he's not a drake. He ought to moderate his voice， like those little birds who aresinging in the lime-trees over there in our neighbor's garden， but that is an art only acquiredin polite soc
4、iety. How sweetly they sing there； it is quite a pleasure to listen to them！ I call itPortuguese singing. If I had only such a little singing-bird， I'd be kind and good as a mother tohim， for it's in my nature， in my Portuguese blood.” While she was speaking， one of the little singing-birds came t
5、umbling head over heels fromthe roof into the yard. The cat was after him， but he had escaped from her with a brokenwing， and so came tumbling into the yard.“That's just like the cat， she's a villain，” said thePortuguese duck.“I remember her ways when I had children of my own. How can such acreatur
6、e be allowed to live， and wander about upon the roofs. I don't think they allow suchthings in Portugal.” She pitied the little singing-bird， and so did all the other ducks who werenot Portuguese. “Poor little creature！” they said， one after another， as they came up.“We can't sing，certainly； but we
7、 have a sounding-board， or something of the kind， within us； we can feelthat， though we don't talk about it.” “But I can talk，” said the Portuguese duck；“and I'll do something for the little fellow； it'smy
