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 parter;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. 
　　
    一個村姑頭上頂著一罐牛奶在路上行走。走著走著，她的腦子里浮現出一連串的幻想：“我賣了這罐牛奶后，用這筆錢買雞蛋，這樣我有的雞蛋可以增加到300個。用這300個雞蛋孵小雞，這就算有壞的、生蟲的，至少也能孵出250只小雞。等小雞長大后，正好能趕上賣個好市價；那么到了新年，我就能有錢買一件新晚裝。買一件綠色的——讓我好好想想——對，綠色與我的膚色最相襯。我穿上這件衣服去趕集，所有的年輕小伙子都會搶著邀請我做舞伴；但是不行——我要輕蔑地把頭一揚，轉身過去不理他們，讓他們人人都碰個釘子。 

    她想得得意忘形，情不自禁地把頭一揚，剎那間，牛奶罐跌了下來！她幻想的一切幸福瞬間破滅了。