The Milkmaid and Her Pail

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.