A country maid was walking with a can of milk upon her head when she fell into a train of reflections.
"The money from selling this milk will let me increase my stock of eggs to three hundred. These eggs, allowing for some that may be addle or destroyed by vermin, will produce at least two hundred and fifty chickens. The chickens will be ready for market just when poultry is dearest; so by the new year I'll surely have enough money to buy a new gown. Green—let me think—yes, green suits my complexion best, and green it shall be. In this dress, I'll go to the fair where all the young men will try to win me as a partner; but no—I'll refuse every one of them and turn away with a disdainful toss."
Transported by this idea, she could not help acting out the thought in her mind with a toss of her head—and down came the can of milk! All her imaginary happiness vanished in an instant.