Permission to Hunt

A man who loved hunting was visited by a friend from a distant area who also loved hunting. They decided to go out to see what they could scare up.

"I know where there is a farm with excellent hunting," said the local, "but the owner is one of the meanest men I have ever met. I just don't want to face him and hear his mean tirades against hunters and hunting."

"Well, I am pretty good at meeting mean customers; let me go up to the house and ask him about hunting on his property, and you stay out of sight in the car."

So they did. The stranger went up to the farmer and asked about hunting on his property, and the farmer was very agreeable. He said he did not mind at all, that he liked to allow nice hunters on his place. "But," he said, "I do have one request: Would you mind shooting my old horse for me? He is hopelessly old and ill, and ought to be put out of his misery, but I just cannot force myself to put him down."

The visiting hunter agreed readily to do the sad task. But when he got back to the place where the other hunter was sort of hiding out, he did not let on that he had had a good reception.

Instead, he drove on out into the fields without saying anything other than he did get permission.

When they found the poor old horse out in the pasture almost dead, the visiting hunter said, "You were right; that old farmer is mean, about the meanest person I have ever seen. I think I will just plug that horse of his to show him what I think of his meanness." Going over to the horse. He did the needful: a shot rang out and the old horse was gone. Then he heard two more shots!

He hurried back to the car, and the other hunter said, "Yeah, I wanted to really show him what we think of him, so I just shot two of his cows! Come on, let's get out of here!"