The Milkmaid and Her Pail
A farmer's daughter walks home with a pail of milk on her head, dreaming of cream, butter, eggs, chickens and a new gown. She tosses her head with pride, the pail falls, and all her dreams vanish in a moment.
Scene 1: Home from Milking
The Milkmaid and Her Pail. A farmer’s daughter had been out to milk the cows. Now she was walking home, carrying her pail of milk upon her head. As she walked along, she began to dream.
Scene 2: Cream, Butter, Eggs
She said to herself: “The milk in this pail will give me cream. I will make it into butter and take it to market to sell.” She went on: “With the money I will buy some eggs. The eggs will hatch into chickens, and by and by I shall have a big poultry yard.”
Scene 3: A New Gown
The Milkmaid smiled and thought: “I will sell some of my hens and buy myself a new gown. I shall wear it when I go to the fair.” Then she said: “All the young men will admire it. But I shall toss my head and have nothing to say to them.”
Scene 4: Down Went the Pail!
Forgetting all about the pail, she tossed her head. Down went the pail! All the milk was spilled. And all her fine castles in the air vanished in a moment.
Scene 5: Home to Mother
So the Milkmaid had to go home and tell her mother what had happened. Her mother said: “Ah, my child…” Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
Moral: Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
Questions about The Milkmaid and Her Pail
What was the Milkmaid carrying on her head?
A pail of milk.
What did she want to make from the cream?
Butter.
What did she plan to buy with the money from the butter?
Eggs.
Where did she want to wear her new gown?
To the fair.
What happened when she tossed her head?
The pail fell and the milk spilled.
More stories to read aloud
- The Lion and the Mouse — A Lion catches a little Mouse but laughs and lets her go when she promises to repay him.
- The Hare and the Tortoise — A boastful Hare laughs at the slow Tortoise, so the Tortoise challenges him to a race.
- Belling the Cat — The Mice hold a council and a young Mouse has a clever plan: hang a bell about the Cat’s neck.