The Country Maid and Her Milk Can

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 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 passed in her mind，when down came the can of milk！And all her imaginary happiness vanished in a moment．

Words and Expressions

- can n．（+of）罐头；一罐

allow for就算，即使

- addle adj．变质的，腐臭的

- vermin n．害虫

- complexion n．肤色，面色，气色

- disdainful adj．轻蔑的，蔑视的

- toss n．摇摆

（be）transported with万分激动；心荡神移

- forbear v．克制，忍耐，容忍

Read and think：

What did the country maid finally get with her can of milk？Why？

What does the story tell us？

Try and translate the following proverb into Chinese：

Don't count your chickens before they are hatched（孵化）．

参考译文

村姑和牛奶罐

一个村姑头上顶着一罐牛奶在路上行走。走着走着，她的脑子里浮现出一连串的幻想：“我卖了这罐牛奶后，用这笔钱买鸡蛋，这样我有的鸡蛋可以增加到300个。用这300个鸡蛋孵小鸡，就算有坏的、生虫的，至少也能孵出250只小鸡。等小鸡长大后，正好能赶上卖个好市价；那么到了新年，我就能有钱买一件新晚装。买一件绿色的——让我好好想想——对，绿色与我的肤色最相衬。我穿上这件衣服去赶集，所有的年轻小伙子都会抢着邀请我做舞伴；但是不行——我要轻蔑地把头一扬，转身过去不理他们，让他们人人都碰个钉子。”

她想得得意忘形，情不自禁地把头一扬，刹那间，牛奶罐跌了下来！她幻想的一切幸福瞬间破灭了。