The Milkmaid and Her Pai

Once there was a young milkmaid who was going to the market carrying a jug of

milk. While walking, she thought about all the things she would do with the money

she would get for selling her milk.

“When they pay me,” she said to herself, “I'll buy some chickens. The chickens

will lay a lot of eggs which I will sell at the market. With the money I make from

the eggs I will buy myself a dress and very elegant shoes. Then I will go to the

fair and since I will look so beautiful, all the boys will want to come and talk to

me.”

Thinking of everything she would do with the money from selling her milk, the

maid soon became distracted and tripped on a stone. Her jug broke, spilling all

the milk. With the jug broken, so too were her dreams of the chickens and eggs,

the dress and shoes.

Moral: Do not count you chickens before they are hatched.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

There was once a little shepherd taking care of his flock on the top of a hill. He

was very bored. To amuse himself he took a great breath and sang out, “Wolf!

Wolf! The Wolf is chasing the sheep!”

The villagers came running to help the little shepherd and drive away the wolf.

But when they reached the top of the hill they did not find any wolves. Instead,

they found the little shepherd laughing.

“Don't cry 'wolf when there's no wolf,” said the villagers and they left angry down

the hill.

After a few hours, the little shepherd, finding himself once again very bored,

shouted, “Wolf, wolf! There is a wolf chasing the sheep.”

The villagers ran again to help him, but seeing that there were no wolves, they

told the shepherd very angrily, “Don't cry wolf when there is no wolf. Do it only

when a wolf is truly chasing the sheep.”

Having tricked the villagers once again, the shepherd boy was rolling on the

ground with laughter as he watched the villagers go down the hill.

Later, the little shepherd saw a wolf near his flock. Scared, he shouted as loud

as he could.
“Wolf, wolf! There is a wolf chasing the sheep.”

But the villagers thought he was trying to trick them again, and this time they did

not come to his aid. The little shepherd cried inconsolably as he watched the wolf

run away with all his sheep.

At dusk, the little shepherd returned to the village and told everyone, “The wolf a

on the hill and has taken all my sheep. Why did you not help me?”

Then, the villagers responded, “We would have helped you, just like we did

before, but nobody believes in a liar even when he is telling the truth.”