A Milkmaid had just milked the cows and was returning from the field, carrying the shining milk pail carefully balanced on her head. As she walked along, her pretty head was busy with plans for the days to come.

"This good, rich milk," she mused, "will give me plenty of cream to churn. The butter I make I will take to market, and with the money I get for it, I will buy a lot of eggs for hatching. How nice it will be when they are all hatched and the yard is full of fine young chicks! Then, when May Day comes, I will sell them, and with that money, I'll buy a lovely new dress to wear to the fair. All the men will look at only me."

As she imagined herself settling that matter, she tossed her head scornfully, and down fell the pail of milk to the ground. And all the milk flowed out, and with it vanished the butter, the eggs, the chicks, the new dress, and all the Milkmaid's pride.