The Milkmaid and Her Pail

One morning, a young milkmaid filled a large pail with fresh milk.

She carefully placed the pail on her head and began walking toward the village market.

The road was long, but the milkmaid was cheerful.

As she walked, she began thinking about the money she would earn from selling the milk.

— When I sell this milk, I will use the money to buy a basket of eggs, — she thought.

She imagined the eggs hatching into healthy little chicks.

— When the chicks grow into hens, they will lay even more eggs.

The milkmaid smiled as her plans became bigger.

— I will sell the eggs and some of the hens. Then I will buy a young pig.

She imagined feeding the pig until it grew large and strong.

— When I sell the pig, I will have enough money to buy a cow.

The milkmaid continued walking, barely noticing the road beneath her feet.

In her imagination, the cow produced plenty of milk.

She sold the milk, became wealthy, and bought a beautiful new dress.

— Everyone at the village festival will admire me, — she thought.

She imagined several young people asking her to dance.

— But I will proudly toss my head and say no.

The milkmaid lifted her chin and suddenly tossed her head exactly as she had imagined.

The pail slipped from its place.

It fell to the ground, overturned, and all the milk spilled across the road.

The milkmaid stared at the empty pail.

The eggs, chicks, hens, pig, cow, money, and beautiful dress had existed only in her imagination.

Because she had been thinking too far ahead and had forgotten to protect what she already had, all her plans disappeared with the spilled milk.

She returned home sadly and resolved to plan carefully without losing sight of the present.