The Fisher and the Little Fish

It happened that a Fisher, after fishing all day, caught only a little fish. ‘Pray, let me go, master,' said the Fish. ‘I am much too small for your eating just now. If you put me back into the river I shall soon grow, then you can make a fine meal off me.'

‘Nay, nay, my little Fish,' said the Fisher, ‘I have you now. I may not catch you hereafter.'

A little thing in hand is worth more than a great thing in prospect.