Potatoes! How do you like yours?

Differing crops makes for differing Potatoes. Two neighbours discuss.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Two neighbouring farmers had two different but very similar problems. One of the farmers, Mr Murphy, lived on the right-hand side of the road in the same townland of the same Parish. On his farm, the crop of Potatoes he harvested was too few, oversized and oddly shaped.

His neighbouring farmer and friend, Mr Mulchay, who lived on the left-hand side of said road in the same townland and parish, also had a problem with his crop of Potatoes. His were too many, too small and perfectly shaped.

One evening both farmers, along with their good wives, met in a local hostelry, and they found themselves discussing the outcome of their subsequent crops. Both their wives listened to their husband’s tales of woe, and on hearing the specific details of the potato crops, both women burst into a simultaneous chorus of laughter. Both wives fell into each other’s arms in uncontrollable merriment to the utter astonishment of their bemused husbands.

Eventually, the women’s laughter subsided, and their husbands ventured up as to reason for the uncontrollable hilarity. On recovering her composure, Mrs Mulchay explained why all the hysterics.

“Well, it’s like this. You, men, are never happy with the crop that grows, while we women never complain about the size and extent of the men we marry. I think you both need to learn like we both have had to and that’s to make the best of the crop you’ve received. Because it’s the only crop you get every year. Isn’t that right, Mrs Murphy?” Mrs Mulchay said with a knowing wink and elbow to the ribs of Mrs Murphy.

“Oh! It is, indeed. It surely is.” Said Mrs Murphy while looking the two men up and down with a knowing smile.

Both men looked at the women and then at each other and, in sincere embarrassment, turned away, knowing that their innermost secrets were no longer theirs.