Fables in Rhyme for Little Folks

<h2><SPAN name="f16" id="f16"></SPAN><i>The Heron Who Was Hard To Please.</i></h2> <ANTIMG src="images/16,1.jpg" alt="I'm known as a Heron as such, I live high."><br/> <br/> A long-legged Heron, with long neck and beak,<br/> Set out for a stroll by the bank of a creek.<br/> So clear was the water that if you looked sharp<br/> You could see the pike caper around with the carp.<br/> The Heron might quickly have speared enough fish<br/> To make for his dinner a capital dish.<br/> But he was a very particular bird:<br/> His food fixed "just so," at the hours he preferred.<br/> And hence he decided 'twas better to wait,<br/> Since his appetite grew when he supped rather late.<br/> Pretty soon he was hungry, and stalked to the bank.<br/> Where some pondfish were leaping--a fish of low rank.<br/> "Bah, Bah!" said the Bird. "Sup on these? No--not I.<br/> I'm known as a Heron: as such I live high."<br/> Then some gudgeon swam past that were tempting to see,<br/> But the Heron said hautily: "No--not for <i>me.</i><br/> For those I'd not bother to open my beak,<br/> If I had to hang 'round come next Friday a week."<br/> Thus bragged the big Bird. But he's bound to confess<br/> That he opened his elegant beak for much less.<br/> <i>Not another fish came.</i> When he found all else fail,<br/> He was happy to happen upon a fat snail.<br/> <ANTIMG src="images/16,2.jpg" alt="16,2"><br/> <ANTIMG src="images/16,3.jpg" alt="16,3"><br/> <ANTIMG src="images/16,4.jpg" alt="16,4"> <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> <hr class="narrow"> &nbsp; <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />