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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>An old farmer had a horrible mother-in-law who nagged him
mercilessly. From morning till night (and sometimes later), she was always
complaining about something. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The only time he got any relief was when he was out plowing
with his old mule. He tried to plow a lot. One day, when he was out plowing,
his mother-in-law brought him lunch in the field. He drove the old mule into
the shade, sat down on a stump, and began to eat his lunch. Immediately, his
wife began haranguing him again. Complain, nag, nag; it just went on and on. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>All of a sudden, the old mule lashed out with both hind
feet; caught her smack in the back of the head. Killed her dead on the spot. At
the funeral several days later, the minister noticed something rather odd. When
a woman mourner would approach the old farmer, he would listen for a minute,
then nod his head in agreement; but when a man mourner approached him, he would
listen for a minute, then shake his head in disagreement. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>This was so consistent, the minister decided to ask the old
farmer about it. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>So after the funeral, the minister spoke to the old farmer,
and asked him why he nodded his head and agreed with the women, but always
shook his head and disagreed with all the men. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The old farmer said: "Well, the women would come up and
say something about how nice she looked, or how pretty her dress was, so I'd
nod my head in agreement." <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"And what about the men?" the minister asked. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"They wanted to know if the mule was for sale."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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