"Milkmaid and her pail" is an Eastern folktale. It is sometimes falsely attributed to Aesop's Fables.
One day, a milkmaid was out to milk the cow. She balanced the milk pail nicely on her head as she was returning home. She daydreamed on the way about her plans for the day, about how her rich milk will make fine cream and butter to be selled at the market, which would earn her lots of money. She was so deep in her thoughts that she accidentally dropped the milk to the ground. It flowed and vanished with not only the money, but her pride, too.
Tropes:
- Minimalist Cast: The milkmaid is the only character in this tale.
- Nameless Narrative: No one is named in this tale.
- The Noun and the Noun: It is called "milkmaid and her pail".
