Sylvia is a nine-year-old girl who comes from a crowded manufacturing town in New England to live with her grandmother in the woods just one year ago. Sylvia loves the life here, and never wishes to go home. That night, she is taking her loitering cow home as usual when she heard a boy's whistle, determined and somewhat aggressive. She is horror-stricken when a hunter appears and asks for a night spending at her house, for he's got lost on his hunting for some birds. However, at the little dwelling, Mrs. Tilley welcomes the stranger with hostability. Later, in the conversation with the old woman, learning that Sylvia knows all about birds. The man offers ten dollars to anyone who can show him a rare white heron. On the next day, the handsome man goes gunning and Sylvia keeps his company, having lost her first fear of the friendly lad and even looking at him with loving admiration. The night falling, the white heron is still elusive. Very early the following morning, Sylvia secretly leaves hom in order to climp up the great pine tree at the farther edge of the woods to see the ocean which she has longed to see so far as well as to discover whence the heron flows. Through all hardship, she finally reaches the top of the tree and is able to see " a vast and awesome world" and the white heron from the dead hemlock. Returning home with ever pale face and tattered frock, she is questioned by her grandmother and the charming man, but she decides not to tell them about the secret of the white heron for the sake of its life. The hunter goes away disappointed later in the day and many a night Sylvia hears the echo of his whistle haunting the pasture path as she comes home with the loitering cow.
             ...