The Dove and the Ant: the full story
Part One · A Leaf on the River
A small black ant was thirsty. She went to the river's edge to get a drink.
She leaned out too far. Splash! She tumbled in, and the water swept her away.
She kicked her six legs and waved her feelers. But the river was powerful, and she was so small.
A dove sat in the tree above. She saw the tiny ant bobbing and spinning below.
"Oh, dear!" cooed the dove. "That little one will drown." She looked around for something to help.
She snapped off a green leaf with her beak. She dropped it into the water, right beside the ant.
The ant climbed onto the leaf. It rocked and floated like a little green boat.
The stream carried it to the bank. The ant hopped off, wet and happy, onto dry ground.
"Thank you!" she called up to the dove. The dove nodded and went back to her branch.
Some days later, the ant walked by the river again. She heard a soft step in the grass.
A birdcatcher was tiptoeing toward the tree. He held a net, and he was looking up. The dove was busy preening and did not see him.
The ant saw what he meant to do. She thought of the leaf, and she ran.
She scurried up his boot. She gave his ankle a sharp nip. "Ow!" cried the man, and he dropped his net.
The dove heard the shout and flew off. High above the trees, she looked down. Far below, the ant was waving.