A traveling salesman found himself lost in the countryside as evening was approaching. He drove up to a farmhouse to ask directions. After helping him out, the farmer asked him if he would like to stay for dinner before leaving. The saleman agreed and followed the farmer into the dining room. Seated at the table was the farmer's family and a pig. The pig was wearing three medals and had a wooden leg. The salesman asked the farmer, "How is it that you have a pig seated at your dinner table?"

The farmer replied, "Well, that's no ordinary pig. You notice the medals he's wearing? He got the first one for saving little Timmy when he ran out onto the highway, when the pig ran out and pulled him to safety."

"He got the second by rescuing our daughter Sally when she fell into the well. That pig managed to climb down and drag her up before she drowned."

"The third medal he's wearing he got when my older boy Billy ran into the corral where we keep the steer. That bull would have gored him to death if the pig hadn't pulled him out of there."

"That's pretty amazing," said the salesman, "I guess I can see why you have him at your dinner table. But tell me, why does he have a wooden leg?"

The farmer replied, "Well, a pig like that, you don't just go and eat him up all at once."

— P. J. O´Rourke