The woman in this hilarious story is the perfect mate, a bulwark of strength and uncomplaining loyalty. Though her husband is a fool who acts foolishly and looses a fortune, because of her forgiving nature, he wins a bet with a stranger.
Once there was a country yokel who spent his days caring for his flock. Quite by accident, one day while walking he found a little sack filled with money. He continued on his way when a man passed by with his cow. The man called to him and said, " Listen, you're a fool. Why don't you give me that sack of money, and I will give you my cow? This cow will give you meat, and you won't be weighed down by those heavy coins." The foolish man believed him, and gave him the money in exchange for the cow.
He walked on, and met a man with a donkey. The man called to him and said, "Listen, give me your cow, and I'll give you my donkey. He weighs less than your cow, and will be easier to manage." The foolish man believed him, and exchanged his cow for the donkey.
He walked on until he met a man with a goat. The man called to him and said, "Why don't you give me your donkey, and I'll give you my goat. She will give you her skin, and milk for your children." The foolish man believed him, and exchanged his donkey for the goat. He walked on until he met a man with a rooster. The man called to him and said, "Give me your goat and I will give you my rooster. He is not as heavy, and he will wake you up every morning in time for work." The foolish man believed him, and exchanged his goat for the rooster.
He walked on until he met a man with a hat. The man called to him and said, "Give me your rooster, and I will give you my hat? It will protect you from the sun and the rain." The foolish man believed him, and exchanged the rooster for the hat.
Later, he stopped to drink at a well, and as he leaned over, the hat fell in. "Oh, woe is me'. Now I have lost everything," he wailed, and began to cry. At that moment, a man passed by, and asked him if he was in trouble, "Yes," he said, and told him the whole story from beginning to end. "Let me give you some advice," said the man. "You have acted very unwisely, and your wife is sure to yell at you when she finds out." But the foolish man said, " Oh no, she would never do that, my wife is a good and kindly woman." "Well," said the man, "since you are so sure of yourself, how would you like to make a bet with me? If she bawls you out, you'll have to give me everything you own. If she doesn't, I'll have to give you all of mine.
They agreed. When they arrived at the foolish man's house, he told his wife the whole story. To the man's surprise, without saying a word, she embraced and kissed her husband.
The man paid his bet. He lost because he put a good man in a bad light.
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