# Grandfather's Story - Source: McGuffey's Second Reader (second-reader.gutenberg.org), Public domain, William Holmes McGuffey, 1879, via Project Gutenberg - Reading level: Grades 1 and 2 - Subjects: Stories, Animals, Nature - Topics: fish, tree, bird, grandfather, jane, branches - Length: 199 words, about 1 min - Original: - Page: - Open in Sprouts: GRANDFATHER'S STORY. - "Come and sit by my knee, Jane, and grandfather will tell you a strange story. - "One bright Summer day, I was in a garden in a city, with a friend. "We rested underneath a fig tree. The broad leaves were green and fresh. - "We looked up at the ripe, purple figs. And what do you think came down through the branches of the fig tree over our heads?" - "Oh, a bird, grandfather, a bird!" said little Jane, clapping her hands. - "No, not a bird. It was a fish; a trout, my little girl." - "Not a fish, grandfather! A trout come through the branches of a tree in the city'! I am sure you must be in fun." - "No, Jane, I tell you the truth. My friend and I were very much surprised to see a fish falling from a fig tree. - "But we ran from under the tree, and saw a fishhawk flying, and an eagle after him. - "The hawk had caught the fish, and was carrying it home to his nest, when the eagle saw it and wanted it. - "They fought for it. The fish was dropped, and they both lost it. So much for fighting!" ## Picture credits - illustrator not named in this edition, Public domain ()