Very short story · A1

The Milkmaid and Her Pail

Aesop’s fable·~150 words·~1 min read

A girl dreams of riches and spills her milk.

A young milkmaid was walking to the market. She carried a pail of fresh milk on her head, and she began to dream.

"I will sell this milk and buy many eggs," she thought. "The eggs will become chickens. I will sell the chickens and buy a beautiful new dress."

"In my new dress I will go to the fair. All the boys will smile at me. But I will just turn my head and say no to them."

As she thought this, she tossed her head. The pail fell from her head, and all the milk poured onto the road. So the eggs, the chickens and the dress were gone before they began.

Moral: Do not count on things before you have them.

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Check what you remember

3 quick questions about the story. Scroll up to re-read any time.

Question 1
What was the milkmaid carrying?
Question 2
What did she plan to buy in the end?
Question 3
Why did she spill the milk?
0 of 3 answered

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