NARRATOR
One day, a young milkmaid goes to market.
MILKMAID
Great, I have a big bucket of fresh milk. It will be worth
a lot of money for me!
NARRATOR
While walking along, she dreams of what she might get.
MILKMAID
First, I buy some chickens from the Farmer.
FARMER
Here are some chickens, miss. They lay eggs every day.
MILKMAID
Then, I sell the eggs to the wife of the Mayor.
WIFE of the MAYOR
Here is the money for the fresh eggs, my little one.
MILKMAID
Next, I buy a new dress and a pretty hat.
DRESSMAKER
What colour for your dress, miss?
MILKMAID
Green, of course!
NARRATOR
The young girl continues to dream.
MILKMAID
I wear my new outfit.
YOUNG MEN
Wow! What a beautiful young girl!
MILKMAID
I ignore them.
YOUNG MEN
What is your name, my dear?
MILKMAID
I toss my head like this!
NARRATOR
The pail falls to the ground and the milk spills all over.
MILKMAID
Alas! I am without friends, without new clothes, without money, without eggs, without chickens and without milk.
NARRATOR
The moral of the story: Do not count your chickens
before they are hatched.
THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER
by
Wanda
NARRATOR
One day, a young milkmaid headed off to market to sell her pail of milk.
MILKMAID
What a great day! I have a big bucket of luscious fresh milk.
It will bring a pretty penny in the marketplace.
NARRATOR
While she was walking along the road to town, her mind wandered and she dreamed about what she might purchase with her new-found wealth.
MILKMAID
First, I'll buy some valuable chickens from the farmer.
FARMER
Here are my best chickens, miss. They lay grade A eggs every day.
MILKMAID
Then I'll gather the eggs and sell them at a very good price to the
wife of the mayor.
WIFE of the MAYOR
What exquisite eggs! Here is the money for the fresh grade A's, my little one.
MILKMAID
Next, I'll buy a custom made dress and a gorgeous matching hat.
DRESSMAKER
Here is my most expensive material.
What colour would suit you best for your dress, miss?
MILKMAID
Emerald, of course! It will enhance my hazel eyes and set off my
flowing auburn hair.
NARRATOR
The young girl continued to dream in this manner,
paying little attention to the pathway.
MILKMAID
I will be stunning in my new outfit.
YOUNG MEN
Oh la la! Such beauty and virtue in a young girl!
What is your name, my dear?
MILKMAID
I'll ignore those immature town boys and show them by nonchalantly
tossing my head like this!
NARRATOR
She jerked her head so violently that the pail fell to the ground,
spilling the milk all over.
MILKMAID
(In despair)
Oh no! Look what's happened. Now I am without friends, without new clothes, without money, without eggs, without chickens and without milk.
NARRATOR
The moral of the story: Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
Files are available as PDF downloads. If you do not have a current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader click on the link to the left to go to the free Adobe Downloads page.