There was a young milkmaid. Her name was Molly. She lived on a small farm. She had one brown cow. The cow gave good milk. One morning Molly milked the cow. She filled a big pail with milk. The milk was fresh and white. Molly put the pail on her head. She began to walk to the market. The market was in the town. The road was long and quiet. The sun was warm and bright. Birds sang in the trees. Molly walked and walked. Soon she began to dream. She thought about the milk in the pail. "I will sell this milk," she said. "People will buy it. Everyone likes fresh milk. I will get a lot of money. With the money I will buy eggs. I will buy many good eggs. The eggs will become little chickens. Soon I will have many chickens. I will feed them every day. I will give them water too. The chickens will grow big and fat. Then I will sell my chickens. I will sell them for a good price. With that money I will buy a dress. I will buy a fine new dress. It will be green and very pretty. I will wear it to the spring fair. All the boys will look at me. They will smile and want to talk. But I will not talk to them. I will just toss my head like this!" Molly forgot about the pail. She tossed her head back hard. The pail fell down from her head. The milk spilled all over the road. The fresh white milk was gone. There were no eggs now. There were no chickens now. There was no pretty dress now. All her dreams were gone too. Molly sat down and cried. She was very sad now. She walked home with an empty pail. Her dress was wet with milk. She told her mother the story. "My dear girl," said her mother. "Do not count your chickens before they hatch."