The Milkmaid

A milkmaid, who poized a full pail on her head,
Thus mused on her prospects in life, it is said :
" Let's see — I should think that this milk will procure
One hundred good eggs, or fourscore, to be sure.

" Well then — stop a bit : — it must not be forgotten,
Some of these may be broken, and some may be rotten ;
But if twenty for accidents should be detach'd,
It will leave me just sixty sound eggs to be hatch'd.

" Well, sixty sound eggs — no ; sound chickens, I mean ;
Of these some may die ; — we'll suppose seventeen, —
Seventeen ! — not so many — say ten at the most,
Which will leave fifty chickens to boil or to roast.

" But then there's their barley : how much will they need ?
Why they take but one grain at a time when they feed,
So that's a mere trifle : — now then, let us see,
At a fair market price, how much money there'll be ?

" Six shillings a pair — five — four — three-and-six,
To prevent all mistakes, that low price I will fix ;
Now what will that make ? — fifty chickens, I said,
Fifty times three-and-sixpence — I'll ask brother Ned.

" O ! but stop — three-and-sixpence a pair I must sell 'em ;
Well, a pair is a couple — now then let us tell 'em ;
A couple in fifty will go — (my poor brain !)
Why just a score times, and five pair will remain.

" Twenty-five pair of fowls — now how plaguesome it is,
That I can't reckon up such money as this !
Well, there's no use in trying : so let's give a guess ;
I will say twenty pounds, and it can't be no less.

" Twenty pounds, I am certain, will buy me a cow,
Thirty geese, and two turkeys — eight pigs and a sow ;
Now if these turn out well, at the end of the year,
I shall fill both my pockets with guineas 'tis clear.

" Then I'll bid that old tumble-down hovel good-bye ;
My mother she'll scold, and my sisters they'll cry :
But I won't care a crow's egg for all they can say,
I shan't go to stop with such beggars as they ! "

But forgetting her burden, when this she had said,
The maid superciliously toss'd up her head :
When alas ! for her prospects — her milk-pail descended !
And so all her schemes for the future were ended.

This moral, I think, may be safely attach'd ;
Reckon not on your chickens before they are hatch'd.