To be a good woman is better than to be a fine lady -J.W. Westlake
A man takes his old cow to town to trade for something he and his wife need.
Before he gets to town, he trades for a goat, then trades for a pig, trades again and again, with each trade seemingly getting worse and worse. In town, the man meets two fellows and brags about all of his trades and how happy his wife will be with his final acquisition. These men walk back with the Goodman, amazed at his faith that his trading will please his wife.
The men decide to make Goodman a bet:
"Goodman, if your wife is truly happy with these flower seeds, we will give you a bag of gold; if not, you will give us your flower seeds."
Goodman says "Sure."
The men propose that they will listen by the door to see what the Goodwife says. This is what they hear:
"Good wife, I traded for a goat."
"How wonderful, we could use a goat." says the Goodwife.
"But then I traded for a hog."
"Even better, we could really enjoy a hog!" she says.
"Then I traded for a tomcat." "How smart a trade; we need a tomcat."
"Then the last minute, I traded for a bag of flower seeds."
"Surely you are the wisest man on earth," says Goodwife, and she gave him a big hug and kiss.
The men outside were amazed!! When Goodman comes out, they say, "Here's your gold. But what you have is more precious than gold!"
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."
Proverbs 31:10
