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appreciated some day〃； and he sank down a little deeper into the
mud。
after some time a large white duck swam up to him。 she had yellow
legs； and webbed feet； and was considered a great beauty on account
of her waddle。
〃quack； quack； quack；〃 she said。 〃what a curious shape you are！
may i ask were you born like that； or is it the result of an
accident？〃
〃it is quite evident that you have always lived in the country；〃
answered the rocket； 〃otherwise you would know who i am。 however；
i excuse your ignorance。 it would be unfair to expect other people
to be as remarkable as oneself。 you will no doubt be surprised to
hear that i can fly up into the sky； and e down in a shower of
golden rain。〃
〃i dont think much of that；〃 said the duck； 〃as i cannot see what
use it is to any one。 now； if you could plough the fields like the
ox； or draw a cart like the horse； or look after the sheep like the
collie…dog； that would be something。〃
〃my good creature；〃 cried the rocket in a very haughty tone of
voice； 〃i see that you belong to the lower orders。 a person of my
position is never useful。 we have certain acplishments； and
that is more than sufficient。 i have no sympathy myself with
industry of any kind； least of all with such industries as you seem
to remend。 indeed； i have always been of opinion that hard work
is simply the refuge of people who have nothing whatever to do。〃
〃well； well；〃 said the duck； who was of a very peaceable
disposition； and never quarrelled with any one； 〃everybody has
different tastes。 i hope； at any rate； that you are going to take
up your residence here。〃
〃oh！ dear no；〃 cried the rocket。 〃i am merely a visitor； a
distinguished visitor。 the fact is that i find this place rather
tedious。 there is neither society here； nor solitude。 in fact； it
is essentially suburban。 i shall probably go back to court； for i
know that i am destined to make a sensation in the world。〃
〃i had thoughts of entering public life once myself；〃 remarked the
duck； 〃there are so many things that need reforming。 indeed； i
took the chair at a meeting some time ago； and we passed
resolutions condemning everything that we did not like。 however；
they did not seem to have much effect。 now i go in for
domesticity； and look after my family。〃
〃i am made for public life；〃 said the rocket； 〃and so are all my
relations； even the humblest of them。 whenever we appear we excite
great attention。 i have not actually appeared myself； but when i
do so it will be a magnificent sight。 as for domesticity； it ages
one rapidly； and distracts ones mind from higher things。〃
〃ah！ the higher things of life； how fine they are！〃 said the duck；
〃and that reminds me how hungry i feel〃： and she swam away down
the stream； saying； 〃quack； quack； quack。〃
〃e back！ e back！〃 screamed the rocket； 〃i have a great deal
to say to you〃； but the duck paid no attention to him。 〃i am glad
that she has gone；〃 he said to himself； 〃she has a decidedly
middle…class mind〃； and he sank a little deeper still into the mud；
and began to think about the loneliness of genius； when suddenly
two little boys in white smocks came running down the bank； with a
kettle and some faggots。
〃this must be the deputation；〃 said the rocket； and he tried to
look very dignified。
〃hallo！〃 cried one of the boys； 〃look at this old stick！ i wonder
how it came here〃； and he picked the rocket out of the ditch。
〃old stick！〃 said the rocket； 〃impossible！ gold stick； that is
what he said。 gold stick is very plimentary。 in fact； he
mistakes me for one of the court dignitaries！〃
〃let us put it into the fire！〃 said the other boy； 〃it will help to
boil the kettle。〃
so they piled the faggots together； and put the rocket on top； and
lit the fire。
〃this is magnificent；〃 cried the rocket； 〃they are going to let me
off in broad day…light； so that every one can see me。〃
〃we will go to sleep now；〃 they said； 〃and when we wake up the
kettle will be boiled〃； and they lay down on the grass； and shut
their eyes。
the rocket was very damp； so he took a long time to burn。 at last；
however； the fire caught him。
〃now i am going off！〃 he cried； and he made himself very stiff and
straight。 〃i know i shall go much higher than the stars； much
higher than the moon； much higher than the sun。 in fact； i shall
go so high that … 〃
fizz！ fizz！ fizz！ and he went straight up into the air。
〃delightful！〃 he cried； 〃i shall go on like this for ever。 what a
success i am！〃
but nobody saw him。
then he began to feel a curious tingling sensation all over him。
〃now i am going to explode；〃 he cried。 〃i shall set the whole
world on fire； and make such a noise that nobody will talk about
anything else for a whole year。〃 and he certainly did explode。
bang！ bang！ bang！ went the gunpowder。 there was no doubt about it。
but nobody heard him； not even the two little boys； for they were
sound asleep。
then all that was left of him was the stick； and this fell down on
the back of a goose who was taking a walk by the side of the ditch。
〃good heavens！〃 cried the goose。 〃it is going to rain sticks〃； and
she rushed into the water。
〃i knew i should create a great sensation；〃 gasped the rocket； and
he went out。
end
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