壹個村姑走在路上，頭上頂著壹罐牛奶。她邊走邊琢磨壹系列的事情。
“The money for which I shall sell this milk will enable me to increase my stock of eggs to three hundred.
“賣了這些牛奶，我就有錢湊夠300個雞蛋了。
These eggs, allowing for what may prove addled（腐壞的）, and what may be destroyed by vermin（害蟲）, will produce at least two hundred and fifty chickens.
有了這些雞蛋，就算有幾個壞的，或是害蟲咬壞幾個，也至少能孵出250只小雞。
The chickens will be fit to carry to market just at the time when poultry（家禽） is always dear（高價）; so that by the new year I cannot fail of having money enough to purchase a new gown.
這些小雞就能等行情最好的時候拿到市場去賣。這樣壹來，過年的時候我就能攢夠錢買件新衣裳了。
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;
買綠色的——讓我想想——對，綠色最襯我的膚色，就買綠色的。穿著這件衣裳我要去趕集，年輕男子都會向我求愛
but no — I shall refuse every one of them, and with a disdainful toss turn from them.”
可是，不——我要輕蔑地來個轉身，挨個拒絕他們。”
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.
想到這兒，村姑欣喜若狂，忍不住搖頭晃腦地演練著腦中劃過的每壹個場景。這時，壹罐牛奶全灑了！想象中的幸福瞬間消失得無影無蹤。