Introduction
‘Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched’ is a proverbial warning not to plan too far ahead. In this little fable, our daydreaming country milkmaid goes some way beyond counting unhatched chicks.
A COUNTRY maid was walking along with a can of milk upon her head when she fell into the following train of reflections. “The money for which I shall sell this milk will enable me to increase my stock of eggs to three hundred. These eggs, allowing for what may prove addle and what may be destroyed by vermin will produce at least two hundred and fifty chickens.
“The chickens will be fit to carry to market just at the time when poultry is always dear; so that by the new year I cannot fail of having money enough to purchase a new gown. Green — let me consider — yes, green becomes my complexion best, and green it shall be. In this dress I will go to the fair, where all the young fellows will strive to have me for a partner; but no — I shall refuse every one of them, and with a disdainful toss turn from them.” Transported with this idea she could not forbear acting with her head the thought that thus passed in her mind; when down came the can of milk! and all her imaginary happiness vanished in a moment.
Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
Précis
A milkmaid imagined herself breaking the hearts of all the local beaux. She would trade milk for eggs, and chickens for a knockout green gown, and then refuse her suitors with one toss of her head — like that — forgetting that she was carrying her milk churn there. Over went the churn, and her plans came to nothing. (57 / 60 words)
A milkmaid imagined herself breaking the hearts of all the local beaux. She would trade milk for eggs, and chickens for a knockout green gown, and then refuse her suitors with one toss of her head — like that — forgetting that she was carrying her milk churn there. Over went the churn, and her plans came to nothing.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, despite, not, or, otherwise, since, unless, until.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Head. Her. Increase.
2 Do. Just. Maid.
3 Happy. No. So.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Fail. 2. Chicken. 3. Green. 4. Partner. 5. Milk. 6. Money. 7. Walk. 8. Purchase. 9. Mind.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
crsng (5)
carousing. coursing. creasing. cruising. cursing.
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