The Angler and the Little Fish
An angler, who gained his livelihood by fishing, after a long day's toil, caught nothing but one little fish. "Spare me," said the little creature, "I beseech you. Small as I am, I shall make you but a sorry meal. I am not come to my full size yet. Throw me back into the river for the present and then, when I am grown bigger and worth eating, you may come here and catch me again."
"No, no," said the man; "I have got you now, but if you once get back into the water, your tune will be, 'Catch me, if you can.' "
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.