Swans ( 1 of 2 )

Wording of this Handout:

---

Ever heard of the 'Ugly Duckling"? This is a story about a baby swan which found itself in a farmyard, where all the other animals turned it away because they thought it was ugly. The 'ugly' duckling ran away and had many sad months, but then it turned into a beautiful swan.

But wait a minute. . cygnets aren't ugly. That was just the opinion of the farmyard animals. In God's sight all creatures are beautiful. Cygnets are a little grey when they hatch, and a little clumsy, and it takes them three years before they grow their white feathers. . . but ugly? No way!

The swan is a popular bird in fairy tales. In one story, from Denmark, a whole family of princes is turned into swans. They fly away to fetch their sister, who is able to break the spell.