Story Summary
Read the classic fable The Milkmaid and Her Pail. A young girl loses everything when her daydreams lead to a spilled pail of milk. Don't count your chickens!
Patty the Milkmaid was walking to market with a pail of fresh milk balanced steadily on her head. As she stepped along, she began to daydream about the money she would earn. 'I will sell this milk,' she thought, 'and buy three hundred eggs. From those eggs, at least two hundred and fifty chickens will hatch. By Christmas, they will be ready for market, and I shall sell them to buy a beautiful new silk dress and a pair of green slippers to wear to the fair.' She imagined herself walking into the fair, drawing the gaze of every young man. 'I shall walk with such pride,' she whispered, 'and when they try to talk to me, I shall simply toss my head like this!' Lost in her fantasy, Patty actually tossed her head back. In an instant, the pail tumbled to the ground, and all the milk soaked into the dusty earth. With the milk gone, her dreams of eggs, chickens, and the fine dress vanished into thin air.
The Moral
Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
“Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.”
Fun Fact
This fable is the origin of the common English idiom 'don't count your chickens before they're hatched,' which has been used for centuries to caution against overconfidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Milkmaid and Her Pail?
The moral is to not count your chickens before they are hatched. It warns against relying on profits or successes that have not yet been realized or secured.
Who wrote The Milkmaid and Her Pail?
The story is traditionally attributed to Aesop, the ancient Greek storyteller known for his collection of moral fables. However, it has been adapted by many authors, including Jean de La Fontaine.
What happens at the end of the story?
The milkmaid becomes so caught up in her daydreams that she tosses her head in a gesture of pride. This causes the pail of milk to fall and spill, ruining her plans before they could even begin.
What was the milkmaid planning to buy?
She planned to sell the milk to buy eggs, hatch chickens, sell the chickens to buy a new dress and shoes, and eventually find a suitor at the fair. Her sequence of investments relied entirely on the first sale of milk.
Is the phrase 'don't count your chickens' from this story?
Yes, this specific fable is the primary literary source for the famous idiom. It illustrates the folly of planning based on anticipated results rather than current reality.
Why is this fable still relevant today?
It serves as a timeless psychological reminder to stay grounded in the present. It warns against 'speculative' thinking where one spends imaginary gains before they are actually earned.