I.Once there was a white swan which had three pretty baby swans.These were very lazy little things.
2.They did not try to pick their own food or swim about by themselves.They thought it was much nicer to eat from their mother‘s bill，and sail up and down the stream on her back.
3.Their mother liked to feed them and carry them about.But she knew they must be taughtto seek their own food and to swim up and down.
4.When she spoke to them about it，they said，“Next week we will begin.”One of them did keep her word.She began to swim and seek food for herself.But the others still sat on their mother’s back.
5.One day the mother swan was out in the stream，and the little ones were sitting on her back.All at once the mother dived，heels over head，and let the lazy little swans fall off.
6.Then up she came，and swam off as fast as she could，in among the reeds.There she stayed all night.Left alone，the little swans had to swim.By morning they had all learned their lesson.
