Aesop

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Retold by The Legendary Connection

TLC#00087

Once upon a time, there was a farmer’s daughter who went to milk the cows. After she had filled her pail with fresh milk, she carefully placed it on her head and started walking back home. As she walked, she began to dream about all the wonderful things she could do with the milk.

She thought to herself, "This milk will make delicious cream. Then, I’ll turn the cream into butter and take it to the market. When I sell the butter, I’ll have enough money to buy some eggs."

In her mind, she could see the eggs hatching into tiny, fluffy chicks. "Soon, I’ll have a yard full of chickens!" she said with excitement. "The chickens will grow big and strong, and I can sell them at the market."

Her dreams grew even bigger. "I’ll sell some of the chickens and use the money to buy a beautiful new dress. When I wear it to the fair, everyone will notice me, and the young fellows will admire how lovely I look. But," she giggled, "I’ll just toss my head and not pay them any attention."

Feeling proud and excited, she decided to practice how she would toss her head at the fair. She lifted her chin and tossed her head back, imagining herself in her beautiful new dress.

But in that very moment, she forgot all about the pail of milk on her head. When she tossed her head, the pail tipped over, and all the milk spilled onto the ground. She gasped as she watched the milk puddle at her feet, and with it, all her dreams of cream, butter, eggs, chickens, and a new dress vanished.

"Oh no!" she cried. She stood still, realizing that her daydreaming had caused her to lose all the milk. There would be no butter, no eggs, no chickens, and no pretty new dress.

With a sigh, she said to herself, "I shouldn’t have counted on all those things before they even happened."

From that day on, the farmer’s daughter learned to be wise and careful. She knew it was important to focus on what she had right now, instead of dreaming too far ahead. And so, she always remembered: "Don’t count your chickens before they hatch."

Source: ---. “Aesop’s Fables; a New Translation.” Https://Www.gutenberg.org/Files/11339/11339-h/11339-H.htm, 25 Mar. 2023, www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/11339/pg11339-images.html#THE_MILKMAID_AND_HER_PAIL. Accessed 12 Feb. 2024.