The Aesop for Children by Milo Winter
The Milkmaid and Her Pail
A Milkmaid had been out to
milk the cows and was returning
from the field with the shining
milk pail balanced nicely on her
head. As she walked along, her
pretty head was busy with plans
for the days to come.
"This good, rich milk," she
reused, "will give me plenty of
cream to churn. The butter I
make I will take to market, and
with the money I get for it I will
buy a lot of eggs for hatching.
How nice it will be when they are
all hatched and the yard is full of
fine young chicks. Then when
May day comes I will sell them,
and with the money I'll buy a
lovely new dress to wear to the
fair. All the young men will
look at me. They will come and
try to make love to me,—but I
shall very quickly send them
about their business!"
As she thought of how she
would settle that matter, she
tossed her head scornfully, and
down fell the pail of milk to the
ground. And all the milk flowed
out, and with it vanished butter
and eggs and chicks and new
dress and all the milkmaid's
pride.
Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
![[Illustration]](http://www.gatewaytotheclassics.com/gold/books/winter/aesop/winter_aesop_zpage080.gif)
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