White Heron

Sylvia is the nine-year-old granddaughter of Mrs. Tilley, and is the protagonist in the story, “A White Heron.” She is a young girl removed from the restrictive and uncomfortable town, who revels in the joys of the freedom of farm and country life. A stranger, an ornithologist who hunts and collects birds, visits her world of natural innocence. He wishes to use Sylvia’s knowledge of the bird life to help him track and kill a white heron for his collection. He offers her ten dollars for her help. Sylvia considers the offer but chooses to remain loyal to the birds rather than betray them to the young man.