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How Much for Joe?

Price for a Young Man's Services

A country boy ran to answer a knock on the farmhouse door. He opened the door to find the old man from down the road standing on the porch. "Is yer pa home?" the man demanded.

"No sir, he went to town," the boy replied.

"Well, what about yer ma?"

"No, she ain't here neither. She went to town with pa."

"How about yer brother, Joe, is he here?"

"No sir."

The old farmer stood there for a few minutes, shifting from one foot to the other, and mumbling to himself.

"Is there anything I kin do fer ya?" The boy asked politely. "I know where all the tools are, if you want to borry one. Or I could take a message fer pa."

Well," said the farmer uncomfortably, "I really wanted to talk to yer pa 'cause your brother Joe got my daughter Sally Mae pregnant."

The boy considered for a moment. "You would have to talk to pa about that," he finally conceded. "Pa charges $500 for the bull and $250 for the boar hog, but I really don't know how much he gets for Joe."