Deep in the Tennessee hills, a farmer’s mule kicked his mother-in-law to death. An enormous crowd of men turned out for the funeral. The minister, examining the crowd outside the church, commented to a farmer friend:

“This old lady must have been mighty popular. Just look how many people left their work to come to her funeral.” “They’re not here for the funeral. They’re here to buy the mule.”

Vocabulary Help

  • deep – fundo
  • hills – colinas
  • mule – mula
  • kick – coice (chutar)
  • mother-in-law – sogra
  • death – morte
  • crowd – multidão
  • turned out – apareceram
  • outside – do lado de fora
  • church – igreja
  • farmer – fazendeiro
  • friend – amigo
  • mighty popular – bastante popular
  • leave (leave, left, left) – deixar
  • buy (buy, bought, bought) – comprar