Little Heron Learns to Wait
1Little Heron lived at the edge of a quiet marsh with Grandmother Heron. He had long legs and a sharp beak. But Little Heron was always hungry, because he could not catch a single fish.
2Every morning, Little Heron stomped into the water. He ran after the silver fish, splashing as he went. But the fish saw him coming and darted away.
3Grandmother Heron watched from the reeds. "Stand as still as a reed and wait," she said. "The fish will come to you." Little Heron shook his head. "Waiting is too slow," he said. He flapped his wings and splashed even harder. But the fish swam away.
4By afternoon, Little Heron was tired, and his stomach growled. At last, he tried Grandmother's way. He stood very still in the shallow water and waited. Soon a fish swam right past his feet. Snap! Little Heron caught it.
5The next morning, his little cousin Pim came stomping into the marsh. Little Heron smiled. "Stand as still as a reed," he told her. "Then wait for the fish."