43 MOLLY AND THE PAIL OF MILK

Molly lived on a farm.

A little cow lived on the farm, too.

The cow gave good milk.

One day Molly's mother said, “You may have this pail of milk, Molly.

Go to town and sell it.

You may have all the money you get.”

“Oh, thank you, mother! ”said Molly.

She put the pail of milk on her head and walked down the road.

“When I sell this milk, I shall get some money, ”she said.

“Then I will buy some eggs.

I will put the eggs under our hens.

The hens will sit on the eggs.

Soon little chickens will be hatched.

I will sell the chickens.

With the money I will buy more eggs.

I will buy many, many eggs.

Soon I shall have many little chickens.

They will grow big and fat.

I will sell them all.

What shall I do with all that money?

Oh, I know! I will buy some geese.

Then I will buy some ducks.

I will buy a pig.

I will buy a horse.

I will buy a cow.

I will buy a farm.

I will build a little house on the farm.

I will live in the little house.

How happy I shall be there!

This little pail of milk will do it all.”

It made Molly happy just to think of it.

She began to jump and sing.

Down came the pail of milk!

Poor Molly! She did not sell the milk.

She could not buy any eggs.

She could not buy ducks and geese, a pig, a horse, a cow, and a little farm.

She could not build a little house.

She counted her chickens too soon.

Next time she will wait until they are hatched.

(Retold from a Fable by Æsop)

Word list

pail: a container for holding water, milk, and other liquids

hatch: to come out of an egg and be born—as baby chicks do

You Practice

A) Answer the following questions.

1) Who gave Molly the pail of milk?

2) What did Molly plan to do with the money she earned from selling the milk?

3) How was Molly going to earn enough money to buy a farm?

4) Why did Molly not sell her pail of milk?

5) Why was Molly jumping and singing?

B) Which came first? Read these sentences carefully, then order them 1-5 to show the order of events.

_____ Molly planned to buy some eggs.

_____ Molly spilled the milk, and her plan was ruined.

_____ The eggs would hatch, and the chicks would grow up.

_____ Molly's mother gave her a pail of milk to sell.

_____ Molly would sell the chickens to get more money.

C) What's the word? Using the clues, write the correct words from the story.

1) the milk was in this: p _ _ _

2) hens make these: e _ _ _

3) many animals live here: f _ _ _

4) we use this to buy things: m _ _ _ _

5) some people do this when they are happy: s _ _ _