The Fisherman and the Sprat
A Fisherman cast his net into the sea, and when he drew it up
again it contained nothing but a single Sprat that begged to be put
back into the water. "I'm only a little fish now," it said, "but I
shall grow big one day, and then if you come and catch me again I
shall be of some use to you." But the Fisherman replied, "Oh, no, I
shall keep you now I've got you: if I put you back, should I ever
see you again? Not likely!"