The Milkmaid and Her Pail

The Milkmaid and Her Pail

from Aesop’s Fables

There was once a poor farmer who had a daughter. She was

always day-dreaming. “Your head is always in the clouds,” scolded the

farmer. “It’s time you learned to milk the cows.”

The farmer’s daughter did not want to be a milkmaid. She wanted

to become rich. When she had finished milking, she put the pail of milk

on her head and returned to the dairy, day-dreaming as she walked.

“This pail will give cream, and from the cream, I will make butter.

I’ll sell the butter and buy some eggs. When the eggs hatch, I’ll have

chickens who will lay more eggs. Soon I will have a whole field of

poultry. Then I will sell the hens and buy a fine silk dress.”

The milkmaid spun around in her imaginary dress. “All the young

men will admire my dress and will fall in love with me,” she added

proudly. “I shall toss my head and have nothing to do with them!”

At this, she tossed her head.

Down went the pail. All the milk

was spilled, and the milkmaid’s

dreams came to nothing.

Moral: Do not count your

chickens before they are hatched.