The Country Milkmaid
A pretty young milkmaid plans just a little bit too far ahead.
‘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.