Week 3 Sarah Orne Jewett

"A White Heron"

    The short story " A White Heron"  by Sarah Orne Jewett takes place a long time ago in a rural area.  Little Sylvia who is about 8 years old goes to live with her grandmother in the country after living in the city.  I think the fact that she spent so many years in a big city she would learn to appreciate the quiet country living.  Throughout the story you see how Sylvia just loves nature.  In the beginning you see Sylvia driving home her cow "Mistress Molly" She takes great delight in finding her and bringing her home. On the way home she never rushes Mistress Molly along, just taking in nature while the cow stops to take a drink from the brook.  She takes notice to the cool water, moths flying by her, and birds chirping in the air. 

      Along her walk home she meets a man with a gun.  She quickly learns that he loves birds just as she does, but he has a different kind of love.  She enjoys watching them and listening to them. His idea of enjoyment is to kill them, stuff them and preserve them. She comes to find out he is after the "White Heron"  She knows exactly what he is talking about!   She has seen this bird before and knows exactly where their nest is.  He offers her family $10.00 if she can lead him to the white heron.  That is a lot of money to them and she must decide between giving up the birds whereabouts or the money.  

     The next night when everyone is asleep she sneaks away to where the nest is.  She climbs up a large tree higher than she has ever climbed before and sees the bird calling out to his mate.  She begins to imagine what the stranger will say about her knowing where they birds nest is.  But when she goes home and is questioned she just can't bear to tell the bird's secret.  She knows if she tells he will immediately dart out of there to shoot them.  I think she knows the White Heron is a rare bird and giving his secret away means he will be dead in the matter of hours.  She cannot be held responsible for giving his life away.  She is saving the birds life and in the end they will have more birds to continue on their existence. At such a young age she realizes the importance of their conservation over money.