Дюймовочка

           Thumbelinausedthepetalasaboat,andwithapairofwhitehorsehairsforoarsshecouldrowclearacrosstheplate-acharmingsight. Shecouldsing,too. Hervoicewasthesoftestandsweetestthatanyoneeverhasheard. 

           Onenightasshelayinhercradle,ahorribletoadhoppedinthroughthewindow-oneofthepaneswasbroken. Thisbig,ugly,slimytoadjumpedrightdownonthetablewhereThumbelinawasasleepundertheredrosepetal. 

           "Here’saperfectwifeformyson!"thetoadexclaimed. SheseizeduponthewalnutshellinwhichThumbelinalayasleep,andhoppedoffwithit,outthewindowandintothegarden. Abigbroadstreamranthroughit,withamuddymarshalongitsbanks,andherethetoadlivedwithherson. Ugh!hewasjustlikehismother,slimyandhorrible. "Co-ax,co-ax,brek-ek-eke-kex,"wasallthathecouldsaywhenhesawthegracefullittlegirlinthewalnutshell. 

           "Don’tspeaksoloud,oryouwillwakeherup,"theoldtoadtoldhim. "Shemightgetawayfromusyet,forsheisaslightasapuffofswan’s-down. Wemustputherononeofthebroadwaterlilyleavesoutinthestream. Sheissosmallandlightthatitwillbejustlikeanislandtoher,andshecan’trunawayfromuswhilewearemakingourbestroomunderthemudreadyforyoutwotolivein." 

           Manywaterlilieswithbroadgreenleavesgrewinthestream,anditlookedasiftheywerefloatingonthesurface. Theleafwhichlayfurthestfromthebankwasthelargestofthemall,anditwastothisleafthattheoldtoadswamwiththewalnutshellwhichheldThumbelina.