A milkmaid was walking to the market with a pail of milk on her head. She began to daydream about all the things she would do with the money she would earn by selling the milk.
She thought to herself, "With the money I get for this milk, I'll buy some eggs. These eggs will hatch into chickens. The chickens will lay more eggs, and soon I'll have a whole flock of chickens. Then I'll sell the chickens for a good price and buy myself a new dress and some fine shoes. I'll look so beautiful that all the young men in the village will admire me. Perhaps even the mayor's son will notice me and ask for my hand in marriage!"
As she was lost in her daydream, she tossed her head back to imagine herself walking down the aisle in a magnificent wedding dress. But as she did, she accidentally knocked the pail of milk off her head, and all the milk spilled onto the ground.
The milkmaid stood there in shock, looking at the puddle of milk, and realized that all her dreams were ruined. She had lost everything because she had been too busy daydreaming and had not paid attention to the task at hand.
Once upon a time, a young milkmaid was walking to the market. On her head, she balanced a pail of fresh milk with great care. The sun was warm, and she smiled as she thought about all the things she could buy once she sold the milk.
"With the money from this milk, I will buy a dozen eggs," she thought. "Soon, the eggs will hatch into little chicks. Before long, I will have a whole flock of hens! They will lay eggs every day, and I can sell them to make even more money. Then, I will buy a beautiful dress and shiny new shoes. When I walk through the village, everyone will admire me! Maybe even the mayor’s son will notice me. Oh, how wonderful my life will be!"
She was filled with joy as she thought about her future. She imagined herself in the dress, walking proudly through the village. Feeling important, she lifted her chin and gave her head a little toss, just as she had seen the noble ladies do.
But the moment she did, the pail wobbled. She gasped and tried to hold it steady, but it was too late. The pail tipped over, and all the milk spilled onto the ground.
The milkmaid looked at the puddle. Her dreams faded away, just like the spilled milk. With a sad sigh, she picked up the empty pail and started walking home.
When she explained what happened, her mother shook her head. "Oh, my child," she said gently, "don’t count your chickens before they hatch."
The milkmaid realized she had been so busy dreaming that she had not paid attention to what she was doing.
A girl has a pail of milk. She carries the milk to the market. The pail is on her head.
She walks and thinks, "I will sell this milk. I will get money. I will buy eggs. The eggs will be chicks. The chicks will be chickens. The chickens will give more eggs. I will have many chickens."
She thinks, "I will sell the chickens. I will buy a dress. The dress will be beautiful. I will buy shoes. The shoes will be shiny. The boys will look at me. Maybe, the mayor's son will marry me."
She moves her head. The pail falls. The milk spills. The girl looks at the milk. She is sad.
She thinks, "I lose the milk. I lose my dreams. I must be careful."
Once upon a time, a young milkmaid was walking to the market. On her head, she balanced a pail of fresh milk with great care. The sun was warm, and she smiled as she thought about all the things she could buy once she sold the milk.
"With the money from this milk, I will buy a dozen eggs," she thought. "Soon, the eggs will hatch into little chicks. Before long, I will have a whole flock of hens! They will lay eggs every day, and I can sell them to make even more money. Then, I will buy a beautiful dress and shiny new shoes. When I walk through the village, everyone will admire me! Maybe even the mayor’s son will notice me. Oh, how wonderful my life will be!"
She was filled with joy as she thought about her future. She imagined herself in the dress, walking proudly through the village. Feeling important, she lifted her chin and gave her head a little toss, just as she had seen the noble ladies do.
But the moment she did, the pail wobbled. She gasped and tried to hold it steady, but it was too late. The pail tipped over, and all the milk spilled onto the ground.
The milkmaid looked at the puddle. Her dreams faded away, just like the spilled milk. With a sad sigh, she picked up the empty pail and started walking home.
When she explained what happened, her mother shook her head. "Oh, my child," she said gently, "don’t count your chickens before they hatch."
The milkmaid realized she had been so busy dreaming that she had not paid attention to what she was doing.
Once upon a time, a milkmaid was strutting down the road like she was on a fashion runway, a pail of milk balanced oh-so-gracefully on her noggin. She was already mentally spending the moolah she'd get from selling this liquid gold.
"Right," she thought, "sell the milk, buy some eggs. Simple. Those eggs will grow up to be like, 'Cluck, cluck! Here's breakfast, love!' And then, chickens galore! Like a chicken party, but without the disco ball."
She started to chuckle, her imagination running wild. "Oh, sell the chickens, buy the dress. Not just any dress—a red carpet knockout! Add some killer shoes, and BAM! I'm the Beyoncé of the barnyard!"
Just imagining it made her feel like a million bucks, or at least a couple hundred eggs. "All the village lads will be like, 'Who's that girl?' Even the mayor's son might give me the eye! Marriage? Why, yes, I accept your proposal, sir, you can thank me later!"
In her daydreaming bliss, she tossed her head back like she was in a shampoo commercial, picturing herself twirling in her glam wedding gown. But—OOPS!—down went the pail! Crash, splash, and farewell to her dairy dreams.
"Aw, biscuits!" She gawked at her spilled future, now just a puddle of wasted opportunities. "That's it. No chickens, no dress, no killer shoes. It's back to Cow's Got Talent for me."
Standing there, she got the memo. Her dreams got a reality check, bounced, and were marked 'Insufficient Funds.' All because she'd been on cloud nine instead of keeping both feet—and her pail—firmly on the ground.
Moral of the story? Don't count your chickens—or your wedding bells—before they hatch. Or, you know, before you've even got the eggs.
Upon a sunny pathway wide,
A milkmaid strolled, with pride inside.
A pail of milk, so fresh and cool,
Balanced atop her head, her tool.
As she walked, her mind did stray,
To dreams of wealth and a brighter day.
"With coins I earn from milk so fine,
I'll buy eggs, in a twisting line.
Those eggs will crack, and chicks emerge,
They'll cluck and peck, and then converge.
A flock of hens, all gold and brown,
I'll sell them off, in the nearby town.
With that money, oh what delight!
A new dress, shoes, all shining bright.
I'll be the belle, all will see,
Maybe the mayor's son will fancy me!"
She swayed, imagining a dance so grand,
Forgetting the pail in this dreamy land.
Tilting her head, she felt a splash,
Her milk was gone, dreams crushed in a flash.
There she stood, amidst the spill,
Dreams faded, time became still.
Though dreams are sweet, it's clear to see,
It's wise to live in reality.
A girl who carries and sells fresh milk.
Kept something steady without falling over.
When eggs break open, and chicks come out.
A group of birds or animals together.
To look at something with respect and liking.
Someone important, often rich or well-respected.
In a happy way, feeling good about yourself.
Moved from side to side, almost falling.
Leaned too much, causing something to fall.
Flowed out accidentally from a container.
A container to hold things like milk.
A place where people buy and sell things.
Baby chickens just hatched from eggs.
Birds that lay eggs and can be farm animals.
Clothes that girls or women wear.
Bright and reflects light.
Leader of a town or city.
When liquid falls out of a container.
Hopes or wishes for the future.
Being cautious and avoiding mistakes.
A girl who carries and sells fresh milk.
Kept something steady without falling over.
When eggs break open, and chicks come out.
A group of birds or animals together.
To look at something with respect and liking.
Someone important, often rich or well-respected.
In a happy way, feeling good about yourself.
Moved from side to side, almost falling.
Leaned too much, causing something to fall.
Flowed out accidentally from a container.
What does the girl carry to the market?
Where does the girl carry the pail of milk?
What does the girl want to buy first with the money from selling the milk?
What happens when the girl moves her head?
Why is the girl sad at the end of the story?
A slow and steady tortoise wins a race against a boastful and overconfident hare.
A thirsty crow cleverly drops pebbles into a pitcher, raising the water level to drink and quench its thirst.
A North Wind and a Sun compete to remove a traveler’s cloak, but the Sun wins with warmth.
A king's elephant and a dog form a friendship, are suddenly separated, but they are reunited by the king and live happily.
A lion spared a mouse's life, later, the mouse rescued the lion from a trap.
A farmer teaches his quarreling sons the strength of unity using a bundle of sticks.
An ant works hard and saves food for the winter while the grasshopper plays and starves.
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